As a Northwestern grad, I am disturbed by Bucky's appearance, but I guess, considering the circumstances, we are all on the same, much more important team now. Way to go UW... keep up the good work!!
Chris | Email | Homepage | 05.08.03 - 3:49 pm | #

Hooray for Madison from a "coastie" who transferred "back east"! The Bucky is indeed shameless, but you've secured yourself a fine plot on/under Lakeshore. By my old dorm, no less.
Joe Mariani | Email | Homepage | 05.08.03 - 4:11 pm | #

I confess to being homeless. I spent 4 undergrad years at the Honors Dorm in Sellery (2A). Thy transferred teh Honors off to Chadbourne, I think (though I hear that Chad is now co-ed? is that true?)
Aziz | Email | Homepage | 05.08.03 - 5:22 pm | #

I have a question. What do people at Meetups actually DO to help Dean? I sit more than just a club-like gathering of the like-minded?

Are Meetups intended to mobilize people to actively go out in public and publicize Dean, talking to people, etc.?
Otherwise it would just be a passive phenomenon.
JJ | Email | Homepage | 05.08.03 - 7:56 pm | #

The Meetup in Orange County was almost a disaster. We were scheduled for Dave & Buster's, but there was no place for us when we got there, so we quickly moved to a nearby restaurant. Everything turned out fine, but we don't want a repeat performance next month.

There were about 60 people in attendance, out of 188 listed at Meetup for Orange County. (I think we might have gotten a little bit better turnout if the Lakers weren't playing last night.)

We'd like to pick our own meeting place, but that doesn't seem to be possible, yet.
Paul Stone | Email | Homepage | 05.08.03 - 8:24 pm | #

JJ (and to those who complain that the meetups aren't doing enough):

Meetup is basically a website that takes the step forward of making a chatroom real instead of virtual. This is not something the Dean campaign had set up or developed. Its popularity has been made by people like us, random Dean backers, who are using it to get together with other Dean backers.

How we use our new groups to take action is up to us. In some cases, a local group might have contact with the Dean campaign, but more often than not, this is a true grassroots thing: be imaginative, come up with your own plan (you, after all, know how to reach your communities better than anyone in Burlington, VT or elsewhere). The Dean campaign recognizes the value of meetup and has been working hard to provide material that you can download from the deanforamerica website. So, do that, come up with your own ideas, and spread the word.

Aziz, since a lot of folks seem to be getting more anxious to transform the meetups into action, maybe we can start a blog on this site where people can share ideas and questions about local campaign strategies.
Alex Bauer | Email | Homepage | 05.08.03 - 8:40 pm | #

Alex,

thats a good idea. Ill start a few open thread posts as we get closer to th enext one.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 05.09.03 - 10:09 am | #

I think a good first step for grassroots "activity" (beyond just meeting) is to counter the impression that Bush is doing what's right to make America secure, and contrasting that to Dean's (hopefully) more realistic policies.

For example, brainstorrming phrases similar to Dean's recent remark that massive defense spending and deficits bankrupted the Soviet Union.

Doing research on how Bush may be plying right into bin Laden's hands. Bush is making bin Laden's case for him in many ways. This is tricky and complex, but one place to start is the book "Through our enemies' eyes", by Anonymous (who was on Nightline last week, if anyone else saw).
Todd | Email | Homepage | 05.09.03 - 11:23 am | #

And then getting out in public (somehow, without putting people off) and raising doubts about Bush's security actions. If that catches someone's interest... lead into Dean.
Todd | Email | Homepage | 05.09.03 - 11:26 am | #

Maybe I should elaborate more fully. At the grassroots level, we can't put words in Dean's mouth, and we need to do more than echo Dean's words. Taking his message to the public is difficult, since a lot of people have the "Hare Krishna" reaction when approached about a political candidate.

I have read in a number of places that the pro-Dean and pro-Dem people involved/interested at this point are highly educated and skilled types. So, why not put these skills to use, researching and presenting why Bush is not serving America's security interests, in a reasonable and non-crazy way. Use this to get peoples' interests. If that succeeds, lean in to introducing Dean.

Are people still reading comments from an old topic that is now way down on the page?
Todd | Email | Homepage | 05.09.03 - 11:59 am | #

Hi all --

Photos from the May 7 San Francisco Meetup are now posted:

http://dean2004.meetup.com/photo...ca/ sanfrancisco

Go Dean!
rhfactor | Email | Homepage | 05.10.03 - 3:03 am | #