The DemocracyFest schedule includes many exciting trainings, speakers and entertainers again this year!
Democracy For America (DFA) will conduct trainings for activists on subjects including Canvassing & Phone Banking, Working with the Media, Event Planning, Mobilizing Young Voters and Fundraising. Whether you've worked in politics for years, are running for office yourself, or are a newcomer to volunteering, you'll find these trainings informative and useful!
Despite the hot and humid weather, hundreds of supporters joined Orange-to-Blue candidate Jim Himes yesterday for all or part of the 22-mile walk across the Fourth Congressional district from Greenwich to Bridgeport. Here are some more of the sights and sounds of the day (see part 1 here) - including a few words from DFA Chair Jim Dean at the stop in Fairfield:
Elected officials, bloggers, and reporters all joined the walk for stretches as well. The Greenwich Time was along for the start of the walk:
Jim Dean is the current Chair of Democracy for America (DFA). As DFA's key spokesperson and fundraiser, Jim keeps DFA in the national spotlight. Jim brings DFA's mission across the country to all 50 states. He meets with candidates, organizers, party leaders and activists, inspiring everyone to get involved and take back our country. Jim has been involved with DFA since our founding in 2004. He has a long history of political involvement and was a key fundraiser for his brother, Howard's campaigns for President, Governor and Lt. Governor.
The 5th Annual DemocracyFest will be held on August 16-17, 2008 in Dulles, VA, just outside Washington, DC. Confirmed speakers, trainers and entertainers include Gov. Howard Dean (speech free and open to the public), Jim Dean, Charlie Grapski, Subway Serenade, Matt Blizek and the DFA Training Acadamy. More coming soon!
- All trainings, entertainment, and speakers on Saturday and Sunday.
- Optional Meet and Greet on Friday evening (Aug 15th).
- Dinner on Saturday.
- Breakfast on Sunday.
- Free parking, or transportation to and from Dulles Airport.
- Access to hotel facilities (business center, indoor pool, etc).
- Priceless interaction with activists from across the nation.
Save up to $40 by purchasing your ticket today!
Price will increase to $95 on February 29th, and $115 on August 2nd.
The 5th Annual DemocracyFest will be held August 16th and 17th, 2008 in Dulles, VA, just outside Washington, DC. The location and date was announced today by DemocracyFest Incorporated; the event's producer.
DemocracyFest is a weekend-long political festival, filled with educational trainings and inspiring speakers and entertainers. The event's motto is "Education by Day, Celebration by Night".
The Holiday Inn Washington Dulles will be the location for this year's event, where politically minded, progressive activists will meet for networking and education. This year's hosting sponsor is Democracy For Virginia and training classes will be conducted by Democracy for America. For more information go to http://www.democracyfest.net/...
You'd think that Republicans would've gotten the clue. President Bush is at record low approval ratings. Yet the Bush Republicans still prevent our troops from coming home from Iraq. They still uphold the President's veto of S-CHIP and it's expansion of health coverage to 10 million kids. They're still trying to protect big business cronies by granting retroactive immunity to the telecommunications companies who participated in the President's illegal, warantless wiretapping program.
It's clear that Republicans like Randy Kuhl and Dave Reichert will support President Bush at every turn... again and again and again.
We’ve got a message for Randy and Dave: we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!
Today, DFA members are proud to endorse progressive Democrats Eric Massa and Darcy Burner. We are raising thousands of dollars to support their campaigns, join us with a contribution of $20.08 right now.
For those interested in New York State and NYC politics, I had an interesting evening last night at a fundraiser for Jimmy Dahroug's run for State Senate with Jim Dean as a guest. For those not familiar with NY State politics, our state legislature is among the most dysfunctional in the country. There is a rule that allows many key decisions to be made by only three men: the Assembly Speaker (currently the rather entrenched and lazy Sheldon Silver), the head of the State Senate (currently the very obstructionist and anti-progressive Republican, Joe Bruno, perhaps best known for using state funds to build monuments named after himself) and the governor (now Eliot Spitzer). Democrat Eliot Spitzer and Lazy Democrat Sheldon Silver have been trying to enact actual legislation, which often passes the Assembly. This is an improvement over the Pataki regime when BOTH then governor Pataki AND Joe Bruno would block real legislation. But Joe Bruno is still there trying to keep things blocked up in Albany, like a constipated patient. The Republicans hold only a two seat majority in the State Senate. Two seats. Last night I met Jimmy Dahroug and came away convinced he can win in 2008.
Earlier today Cenk Uygur from The Young Turks on Air America posted a stinging rebuke of spineless Democrats here and he nails it:
It's going to take a generation to move these spineless Democrats out of office. Unfortunately, that is our only alternative... So, we have to pursue a new tack. The long road of primary fights for the next decade or two until we clear the losers out of this party. The people trained and encouraged to lose by their consultants.
I agree with Cenk! Here at DFA, we are already taking action. Two week's ago DFA endorsed Donna Edwards in her primary against Bush Democrat Al Winn. Today, DFA endorsed Mark Pera against another spineless values betraying DINO, Congressman Dan Lipinski.
Jim Dean, the national chairman of Democracy for America, came to Saratoga Springs, NY, last Wednesday to help bolster the re-election bid of Mayor Valerie Keehn (D), who faces primary opposition this September.
The only good thing that has come of George Bush’s presidency ("presidency") is that he got the progressive left off its ass. Since he took office, showing us on Day One that "compassionate" to these guys meant cutting off health care for desperately poor people around the world, we have awoken, formed activist communities, put our heads together, shared the work, and started to retake our country from the corrupt and evil scoundrels now running the place (into the ground). And, in that vein, WE’RE HAVING A PARTY!
Live in the greater DC area? Coming in for Take Back America? Get started early at a low-dollar fundraiser for the August YearlyKos Convention! Sunday afternoon, 5-7 pm, just down the street from the Hilton where Take Back America starts the next morning, we’re having music, food, networking, and DOOR PRIZES!
And let me add that this will be special food and special door prizes.
(This is a crosspost from Green Mountain Daily, and as such some of the references I make relate to GMD posts or Vermont stuff... please bear with me. If you're curious about anything that doesn't make sense, I try to provide links for background)
Naturally, getting to the hotel in Manchester wasn't as easy as it should've been, but after getting only mildly lost in the driving rain, I arrived late for breakfast and only just in time for John Edwards' scheduled appearence. Fortunately for me, Edwards was on politician time (late), so I got to hear the last extended minutes of Democracy For America President Jim Dean (he of the eerily similar voice to his brother).
(Details on Edwards, Jim Dean, Paul Hodes, Carol Shea-Porter, and the impeachment panel including Jeffry Taylor, Dan DeWalt, Dave Lindorff and Adrienne Kinne below the fold...)
Democracy for NYC (DFNYC) is committed to the ideals of Democracy for America (you may know it as DFA), the group founded by Howard Dean. We're proud to have Kossacks as members.
DFNYC has continually petitioned electeds to end the war, and spoken out for withholding funds. A totally volunteer, non-profit political action committee, DFNYC works for fiscally responsible, socially PROGRESSIVE candidates to WIN, at ALL levels of government.
Because of yesterday's terrible vote, Democracy for NYC is NOT caving. In point of fact, we are CHARGED. Read on.
I am posting this here, because I don't see a section on the Daily Kos to post political events;
DFNYC will be hosting it's Third Anniversary Party.
I enjoy attending events sponsored by this Org because they enable people to participate in the process:
You are cordially invited to join
DEMOCRACY FOR NYC for the 3rd Annual Spring Gala to benefit
Democracy for NYC "A Celebration of People-Powered Politics"
with Congressman JOHN HALL With Special Guest Speaker Jim Dean,
Chairman, Democracy for America plus political satire courtesy of "Laughing Liberally" Wednesday, May 30th, 2007
Link Bar and Lounge
120 East 15th Street (at Irving Place)
New York City
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
$2500 - Benefactor $1000 - Patron $500 - Sponsor
$250 - Friend $50 - Supporter
Cash bar available all evening. Complimentary passed
hors d’ouevres will be served from 6:45 PM - 8:00 PM
The 4th Annual DemocracyFest is coming June 9-10 to the Wayfarer Inn in Bedford, NH. The event will feature progressive speakers, trainings, and entertainment. Organized by volunteers who met through Howard Dean’s presidential campaign, the event has previously been held in Massachusetts, Texas, and California.
DemocracyFest Incorporated, the producers of the event, have just confirmed that Sen. John Edwards will be speaking. DNC Chair, Gov. Howard Dean will be speaking Sunday evening. Gov. Dean’s speech will be free and open to the public. Other speakers and trainers include Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, Bev Harris, William McNary, Mark Crispin Miller, Jim Dean, Bob Fertik, Jeff Feldman, and Sec. William Gardner. Entertainment will be provided by Cecilia St. King, Rebecca Padula, and The Subway Serenade.
John McBride is giving his opening remarks for the 3rd Annual Democracy for New York State Conference. Jim Dean is here. Tom Hughes is here. Appaluse has just broken out as John said we are going to work on turning the State Senate over to Democratic control next year. This in turn lead to an introduction of Brian Keeler, NYBri from DailyKos and The Albany Project, and former (and future) candidate for State Senate.
Eric Massa will be here tonight. Jessica Wisneski is here to talk ab out Campaign Finance Reform. Bo Lipari will be here to talk about where the battle for paper ballots, optical scan voting systems here in New York is right now.
We've a full day planned. An evening of dinner, Eric Massa, and a movie, "Taking The Hill," a documentary about Massa's campaign in '06.
More tomorrow. I'll try to update folks as we move along today.
Democracy for Tennessee held it's bi-annual convention last Saturday, with panel discussions on a wide array of issues, combined with speakers Ned Lamont and Jim Dean, the event turned out great. Ned Lamont discussed his campaign, as well as the need for more non-politicians to run for office. He also spoke of his recent trips to El Salvador and how Iraqis can learn a lesson from them.
Democracy for Tennessee has started a new initiative, GREEN Tennessee.
Democracy for Tennessee is teaming up with presenters from Al Gore's Climate Project and the filmmakers of the documentary Kilowatt Ours to launch the Green Tennessee initiative.
This is a repost with an update of guests, including the just announced "Just added, Jeff Barrie, the filmmaker who created the documentary Kilowatt Ours is going to be at the convention talking about Green initiatives."
I agree with Cenk! Here at DFA, we are already taking action. Two week's ago DFA endorsed 
