Edited by author 09-04-2003 08:42 AM
To: Michael Cudahy
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 4:03 PM
Subject: Re: "To Dare Mighty Things"

As we say in this part of the country, you've got some cahones - so from all of us rubes in bib overalls, thanks for having the courage to stand up and say what needed to be said.
 
Keep it up!
 
M. Lamb
Chimayó N.M.

Re: dmarkert, and your pretentious "Where is writ that the government should provide healthcare? or any service that is "affordable"? The government certainly has more responsibility in waging war on our enemies and securing our "common defense". "

If you're going to quote the Constitution to bolster your arguments, you should quote the entire passage, not merely lift the bits that you support. I may be a stupid liberal, but I can read: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America"

Funny thing is, I seem to read several other broad considerations regarding the makeup of a functioning democracy listed in equal ranking with providing for the "common defense", including promoting the general welfare. Welfare is even capitalized, while defense isn't, for whatever that's worth. The clauses regarding justice and tranquility are also conveniently forgotten by most reactionaries these days, even though they are cherished values of traditional conservatives and liberals alike.

Perhaps in the future you will show us the consideration to construct your arguments with the proper care.

dmarkert, thank you for your concise illustration of exactly the kind of politics we're getting rid of.

"The only thins int he middle of the road are stripes and roadkill"

Yes, who was the great political thinker who first wrote those immortal words? Jefferson? Lincoln? Oh, that's right. Nobody. Because great political thinkers know that divisive politics win elections but lose societies.

This was my letter to Michael Cudahy at micheal@stratfocuscommunications.com

Dear Mr. Cudahy,
 
I was recently forwarded a statement attributed to you by a Howard Dean listserv that I'm a member of. I found it heartening and inspiring. I consider myself a small and large 'D' Democrat but reading your essay I was struck with a feeling that had been missing since my youth.
When I was growing up I engaged in lengthy debates with various members of my family who didn't necessarily share my outlook and yet, because we were grounded in a common respect and affection for the founding principles of this country, almost always came away having enlarged each others' viewpoints. In short, I learned the valuable lesson that "honest men can disagree" and that respect is the key.
As a person deeply committed to the insights about the internal workings of human relationships embodied in the struggle to create and maintain the Constitution of the United States I welcome you as a fellow participant in our common experiment in, as Lincoln said, "the last, best hope of mankind".
I look forward to celebrating the election of Howard Dean in 2004 with you. I'm sure we'll have plenty of other things to talk about after that.
All the best,
Geoff DeWan
Los Angeles, Ca.

Michael Cudahy is the founder and president of Strategic Focus.

What's Michael Cudahy's email address? I would like to use his essay. Is he Michael Cudahy founder and president of Strategic Focus? Or is he the Milwaukee, WI. millionaire, philanthropist? (I grew up in Sheboygan, WI, 45 minutes north of Milwaukee and the Cudahy family is truly a beneficent family: the Milwaukee Art Museum, the IMAX, the Pabst Theatre, Pier Wisconsin)

Thanks Michael for posting this insightful piece on what's happened to American Democracy today. Those who benefit most form dividing rather than uniting the American people will always come out ahead when the electorate is complacent, dumbed down, and disinformed. Rove, spokesman for the conservative think tanks is well informed in these matters, since they are schooled by the likes of Machiavelli and Goebbels.

This is the last election "we the people" will have a chance to be heard. If Bush wins another four years, this country will belong to the highest bidder on his leave. You ask why I support Howard Dean? He is changing the face of contemporary politics by energizing the people into participating once again in the democratic process. Neither the media, nor the old style politicians know what to do with this US, Dean's movement is coalescing together.

One more point, media is also in danger of extinction. Blogs on the internet have access to real time news, as "we the people" communicate globally in ways never seen before. Journalists are already beginning to mine them for views and news. In the not so distant future, the world will belong to those who want people feedback, rather than those who want to extricate and exploit us.

"Howard Dean's vision for America is quite to the left of center and very much tax, spend, and regulate."

Can you cite support for this remark, dmarkert?

How is Howard Dean left of center? If he's left of center, where is the center?

Where in his statements or in his history as governor of Vermont do you see evidence that he will "tax, spend, and regulate?"

Are you comfortable with the current administration? Don't you see evidence that the Bush administration has spent significantly? And has asked for significant new regulation? Have you read the Patriot Act, or the proposals for a 'Patriot Act II'?

The only thins int he middle of the road are stripes and roadkill. The reason it costs so much to employ people is the regulatory and tax burdens placed on our society. Mr. Cudahy offers nothing more than to compare the costs of a war against our enemies - enemies that have made war on America first - with the government providing healthcare. Where is writ that the government should provide healthcare? or any service that is "affordable"? The government certainly has more responsibility in waging war on our enemies and securing our "common defense". As for being scraed of your own government, maybe if it was not so dang big and involved in evrything you would have less to be scared of! Howard Dean's vision for America is quite to the left of center and very much tax, spend, and regulate. Dean will do nothing to unite America, as there really has never been that much unity in our history at all. The larger and more involved government gets, the more bitter and divisive will our public discourse get because the consequences of which party control that power will be that much more dramatic. Best of luck to us all, but I will be casting my lot with the current President, despite his big government spending.

Thank you Michael for very eloquently expressing what I feel. I myself have never been active in Politics before. I am a 56 year old machine operator. The reason I got into politics is George Bush. I am very scared to see the direction my country is heading under his extreme right wing ideology. I do support Howard Dean. The DLC, DNL and all of the self important political whores on cable news just don't get it.

1. "They" say that Dean supporters hate Bush because of Florida.....that's not true for me, Even though I voted for Gore, I didn't have much invested in the outcome of the race.
2. "they" say that when Deans supporters find out that he is not a liberal, we will desert him. We know exactly where he stands on the issues. We don't even agree with him on some of them.
3. "they" say that Dean is too angry. Well I'm angry too! Angry and scared. Dean had a petition on his web site for John Ashcroft to stop trampling on our civil liberties. It was sad to find out that many people were afraid to sign it they were afraid of reprisals. Some remarked that their name might be put on the "no fly list" or they might be in for a tough tax audit. Scared of our own government-How did we come to this?

The reasons I support Howard or HoHo as he is called in Vermont, is that he has a vision for the US that cuts across ideological lines. He's proved in Vermont that he can work with all parties. He is also willing to compromise. This means that just perhaps everyone in government can work together and give us the community that we sorely lack now.

You don't know how heartened I was to read your post. It makes me feel that we will "Take Our Country Back" After all, it does belong to all of us.

Thank you.

Abe - Yes, Michael was kind enough to allow us to post his original essay first on the Greater Democracy blog. If you like it, please feel free to share it -- with full credit to Michael, of course. And drop Michael a note of appreciation.

Thank you, Michael

Regards,

Jock

What's the source for this? I don't see any links, is it original to this site?

I know Michael Cudahy as a friend. I know him also as a fellow Moderate Republican turning to Howard Dean. He is a modest, kind and dedicated man who has worked for many years in the backround of the GOP. He did so honestly and well, working for many bipartisan issues. I applaud him for this letter. I applaud him for this call for bipartisan exchange. I applaud him for his bravery in stepping forward. I hope many others will follow his example. He is a man who does not shout out from the right and who does not wish to be shouted at from either side. He is a man who calmly speaks with all parties in the center. I think good things can come from this. Calm, brave, respectful speaking. I hope so.

Thanks for posting this John. I spend too much time being angry because I am afraid, and at times hopeless. Words such as these are inspiring. We can do this..together! Thank you!