by Mark Silva
DENVER - Forgive these Democrats for a certain fervor at the opening just now of the Democratic National Convention.
That's Abby Dart, a delegate from Michigan at right (photo by Silva), wearing the Mackinac Bridge on her head. Must have something to do with carrying the Upper Peninsula.
And that's Terrie Brady, a teachers' union leader from Jacksonville, Florida, reveling in the front-row seating, just to the left of the stage, that Florida's once-barred delegation has gained with full voting rights. (Once-threatened Michigan also drew prime seating, just to the right of the front.)
"Howard Dean's penance,'' says Brady, with a certain humor for the party chairman who threatened to bar the states' delegates for holding primary elections in January.
Things back home are looking good for the party's presumptive presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, the Florida teachers' union leader maintains.
They held a fundraiser in Jacksonville, one of the state's Republican strongholds, recently and raised $1.7 million for Obama. She and others, who thought they knew all the Democratic donors in town, were looking around the room and asking: "Who are these people?'' No matter, they were writing checks for the maximum.
On the stage of the refrigerated convention center, at the 3 pm Mountain Time opening of the ceremonies, in a hall still largely devoid of delegates, party chairman Dean delivered the theme, in brief: "America realizes that we cannot have four more years of the same ineffective approach to governing,'' Dean said.
"We will demonstrate to all Americans why we need Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the White House,'' Dean said... "We are ready to compete in all 50 states.''
That includes the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
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Comments
It should read 'Ready... in all 50 states, even the ones that use voting machines manufactured by Republicans'
Posted by: Paul | August 25, 2008 6:01 PM
Abby Dart! Wow! She's from my area. How wonderful that she's in Denver. I look forward to our party's party.
Posted by: Jen | August 25, 2008 6:04 PM
If Illinois, Chicago and Cook County are examples of how well Democrats run things, the real question for Mr. Dean is whether the country is ready for the Democrat party. That is, unless Democrats in other states enjoy high taxes, corrupted government officials, poor services, failing schools, and violent crime that Illinois, Chicago and Cook County have.
Posted by: Stratford | August 25, 2008 6:10 PM
Meanwhile B. Obama continues to 'Kerry' his way into the 'lose' column.
Obama lost 3 points while on vac. in HI.
He needs to hit hard now! This minute.
The time is up. There is no time.
Mr. Obama; YOU NEED TO ATTACK NOW.
Can someone reading this with access please tell him he is losing at this very moment? I have tried to contact but am unsure of the result.
I am begging you to go negative. It's the only political language American voters understand.
Posted by: OldCreaky | August 25, 2008 6:11 PM
The Clintonites will make a show of it. Guaranteed. In their usual, Birkenstock-slapping, frizzy haired, caterwauling, menopausal catharsis they'll bully their way or their voices during the convention to get Mrs. Clinton on the ticket come hell or highwater. And if they don't get what they want, they'll pout and stomp their Birkenstock foot like maligned prom queens and throw the baby out with the bathwater with a McCain vote. Voting a whole nation's future out of spite. Nice.
Posted by: Rest in the Midwest | August 25, 2008 6:16 PM
"HOWARD DEAN SPEAKS"
BECAUSE,
BY REMOVING, ATTORNEY GENERAL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION, AND NATURALIZATION, AND INSERTING SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
WE ALL BETTER BE READY IN ALL 50 STATES.
WE ALL BETTER BE READY FOR A "LIEBERMAN" SECRETARY
WE ALL BETTER BE READY FOR A "ROMNEY" ECONOMY
WE ALL BETTER BE READY FOR A NEW "AGE OF THE VISUAL"
WE ALL BETTER BE READY AS IT IS WHAT THE "SECRETARY DEEMS" AND NOT WHAT "AMERICA DEEMS NECESSARY" IF THE MCCAIN REGIME GET INTO THE WHITEHOUSE!
Posted by: Roger Morris | August 25, 2008 6:20 PM
The Democrats don't need to prove anything. It's Bush that proved after four years as president & another four when he was illegitimate the the US needs Obama. This country can't survive anymore republican ignorance.
Posted by: RomanB | August 25, 2008 6:25 PM
Proud Howard Deen is a Democrat and not a Repulician
Posted by: George | August 25, 2008 6:38 PM
Did he do any screaming? When I hear the name Howard Dean, I immediately think of that scream that sunk his campaign - it was music to my ears!
Posted by: vla | August 25, 2008 7:12 PM
Ready in all 50 states? I thought there were 57 states.
Posted by: Barack Americk | August 25, 2008 7:21 PM
** Stratford said,
"If Illinois, Chicago and Cook County are examples of how well Democrats run things, the real question for Mr. Dean is whether the country is ready for the Democrat party. That is, unless Democrats in other states enjoy high taxes, corrupted government officials, poor services, failing schools, and violent crime that Illinois, Chicago and Cook County have."
It's funny how people blame all the problems we have in Ill on Democrats. So now, Ill's violent crime is the Dems fault? Really though? High taxes are the Dems fault? Ok. Corrupted Political officials.. Dems fault? Wow. I can go on and on with u but it wouldn't make sense but then neither do u. All the problems we have are the Dems fault as if they're the messiah with the last word & it's a go! The last time I read every state just about has all the same issues that u listed NOT just Ill. I guess somebody has to be the scapegoat so let it be the Dems.
Posted by: Monica | August 25, 2008 7:47 PM
West in the Midwest. What a stupid comment. How do you know so much about birkenstock. I bet you are one of the ones clomping around in your birkies. You sound like a QUEEN and I mean the limp wrist kind.
Posted by: RFB | August 25, 2008 9:07 PM
I heard there is some consideration that Colin Powell may be McCain's running mate.
Posted by: RFB | August 25, 2008 9:10 PM
Old Creaky--Repubs have no class, no ideas, no limit to how low they will go to steal an election. If Obama fails to energize the clueless, kiss your and the country's future goodbye.
Posted by: alien | August 26, 2008 3:07 AM