howard's the new DNC chair
Good. Now TAKE THE PARTY SOMEWHERE, please.
Read his
acceptance speech.
It's good to hear this reaffirmed:
"We all know that we're the party of the big tent and new ideas.
We know that we're the party for young Americans looking for a government that speaks to them… we know that we're the party for working Americans desperate for a government that looks out for them… and we know that we're the party for older Americans and veterans and members of the Armed Services expecting and deserving a government that honors them.
And we know that no matter where you live or who you are, what you look like or how you worship, ours is the diverse party that welcomes you."
Because sometimes it didn't feel that way, what with the giving in and giving up on issues. Oh, and:
"This week, the Republicans introduced a $2.5 trillion budget that deliberately conceals the cost of their fiscal recklessness.
Their budget doesn't account for the cost of the war in Iraq, or privatizing Social Security. It cuts education, children's health, veterans benefits, and community policing.
As far as I'm concerned, this budget does only two things:
It brings Enron-style accounting to our nation's capital.
And it demonstrates what Americans are beginning to see: Republicans cannot be trusted with your money."
No kidding. Oh, and:
"Americans want a strong and smart national security.
It was Democrats who pushed to create a Department of Homeland Security. It was Democrats who pushed to make our airlines safer. It is Democrats who are now working to make sure we close the remaining gaps in our security. It was Democrats who demanded reform of the intelligence community.
And it is Democrats who are pushing for a foreign policy that honestly deals with the threats of today, and the threats of tomorrow—like securing the nuclear materials around the world.
Republicans had to be dragged kicking and screaming to our side on all of these issues. There is no reason for Democrats to be defensive on national defense."
Securing nuclear materials...IMPORTANT. Oh, and:
"We believe that a good job is the foundation of a strong family, a strong community, and a strong country. We're going to work to create good high-paying jobs here in America, and we're going to keep good high paying jobs here in America.
And there is no reason for us to apologize for being willing to stand up for our belief that Americans who get up and go to work everyday have the right to join a union.
We believe every American should have access to affordable health care. It is wrong that we remain the only industrialized nation in the world that does not assure health care for all of its citizens, particularly our children
We believe the path to a better future goes directly through our public schools."
Jobs here, yes please. Affordable health care, very good. Public schools, IMPORTANT. We should not be proud of C-minus grades.
