Well this is an almost conversion story. I know my moderate Republican brother's musical tastes (which tend toward Folk music; go figure), so I sent him an article in which Dean mentioned the late, great Dave Van Ronk as one of his musical inspirations. My brother was thrilled to see this, and told me he was going to take a look at Dean.
Mal Hoenig | Email | Homepage | 09.04.03 - 2:30 pm | #

This is kind of long, edit it if you please. I cut and pasted it from an e-mail that I sent all my friends 7/9/2003.

I began looking for a candidate to support months ago. I was attracted to Senator Kerry's support of an 85% alcohol 15% gasoline motor fuel to reduce our dependence on Middle East oil. I was disappointed to find that he intended to phase it in over a 20 year time span. Lately he hasn't been talking about it at all. I was also disappointed in his vote to give Bush carte blanche to make war, although he now says he was "deceived" (brain-washed?). Next, I was interested in Senator Edwards. But he doesn't seem to have any coherent plan.
Senator Kerry, Senator Edwards, and Senator Graham all voted for the Patriot Act, which I regard as establishing an American Gestapo. Of All the Senators, and Congressman running, only Graham and Kucinich voted against the blank check for war in Iraq. And Dick Gephardt has seemed very inept at getting anything passed in the House or regaining control of Congress. His health care plan doesn't seem to me to have any more chance of passing than Hillary Clinton's did. On the other hand, Dean's plan has a chance because it includes the private insurance companies and is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. http://www.deanforamerica.com/ si...sues_healthcare
Be sure to read the part about COBRA reform.

Still, I was unsure about whether he had the fire. I saw him on short television appearances and read his papers. It was very well thought out, but I thought, "Can he appeal to other than political junkies like me?"
Then I saw his incendiary speech at the California Democratic Convention on C-SPAN, also known as the "I want my country back" speech. Never before have I whooped and yelled at a television screen like a sports fan witnessing a triple play. OH YEAH! THIS GUY'S GOT FIRE! I have been uplifted by the magnificent speaking style of Mario Cuomo and by the infectious hope of Bill Clinton in his better moments. But never has all the rage and despair and desire for revenge (say rather 'vendetta', the English word doesn't convey the depth of emotion nearly as well as the Italian word) been brought forth from me by a politician. Bush, Rove, Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, Chao (the "just stop paying unemployment benefits and they will go back to work" Labor Secretary) had better look out, because I am going to fight with Howard Dean to put THEM in the unemployment line!
Anthony Segredo | Email | Homepage | 09.04.03 - 3:05 pm | #

I first found Dean back in 99 or so when I was a junior in high school. I did my research paper on civil unions and of course his name was mentioned. Little did I know how far things would go from that point. As soon as I heard last year he was going to run I've been behind him.

I never thought when I wrote that paper that partly discussed him signing the bill he would come this far and I'd get to meet him, shake his hand, and have a picture taken with him during the sleepless summer tour.
C.J. | Email | Homepage | 09.04.03 - 3:10 pm | #

i wear a dean button everywhere. i get asked about him constantly and i always carry business cards with the web addresses so i can hand them out. my next round will have the 866# on it as well.

the most recent story involved my flight from dallas to vegas, then seattle. i was approached by a flight attendent from florida who noticed my dean stickers. he said he'd been a kerry guy but was leaning dean because dean "says exactly what's on his mind". i gave him a card and told him to keep in touch. i got an email from him today! he told me he'd checked out the web sites and read more, and he was going to watch the debate tonight. and that's just one connection i've made so far. dean's message really resonates with people and we are all great ambassadors for the campaign. go dean nation!
anna | Email | Homepage | 09.04.03 - 4:04 pm | #

I voted for Dean in every gubernatorial contest in Vermont from 1992-2000.

That didn’t make me an enthusiastic supporter of Dean. He was very much a politician and sometimes that grated against me.

When he announced very publicly in early 2000 that he was for the death penalty I was very angry with him because I knew he was doing it for political purposes, (running for president ) at least that’s my impression.

So now I was even more down on him.

So what does he do, but runs for governor one more time and signs the civil union bill BEFORE the election.

That impressed me to a high degree. The campaign was tough and nasty like I’ve never experienced in Vermont before. Dean was patient but forthright, explaining his reason for signing and promoting the legislation.

It was his persuasion that convinced a majority of legislators to vote for the bill.

This entire event made me reassess my feelings about Dean. When he started his run last year I knew I would be supporting him. When he came out against the Iraqi war I knew I would be supporting him with much enthusiasm.

I know Howard is a politician but he has shown to me qualities that are uncommon among politicians. He stated his case as he saw it, not as polls suggested what would be best for him.

Howard Dean made the right choice and we will make the right choice in voting for him.
Robert Deeble | Email | Homepage | 09.04.03 - 7:06 pm | #

I supported John Edwards for Senate in North Carolina, and when he won the election, I wrote him a letter of congratulations. I let him know that I trusted him, and supported him, and would be carefully watching him in the Senate, and if he did his job well, I would support him in a future election for President. I believe that he has made some unacceptable choices. I have watched him carefully in the Senate, and hope to be able to vote for him in the next Senate race. I do not support him in this Presidential election.

Dean is rational and charismatic. I agree with him on most issues. Frankly, he appeals to the Libertarian and to the Socialist in me. His fiscal responsibility, focus on small business as the economic engine that built this country (and continues to keep it going), his reasonable stance on gun control and on the death penalty make sense to me. At the same time, he seems to have a reasonably-priced method of providing universal healthcare, and he puts an appropriate focus on the environment.

I went to my first "meetup" this Wednesday. It felt as if Dean was taking back something I've felt has been stolen from us. I consider myself a patriot. When I read "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" to my son, I can't get through it without tears in my eyes and my voice breaking. My love of country is valid too. Dean recognizes that.

Dean sees that people are really more the same than they are different. He strikes me as being the one willing to take on this quagmire of an economy and rebuild it in a sustainable way, and to get the government out of our private lives. I appreciate a candidate who asks me to take some responsibility, rather than one who asks me to go shopping.

My $.02 (at least in the Bush economy).
Araven | Email | Homepage | 09.04.03 - 10:54 pm | #