Dear Howard,

It's a sad, sad day today--but tomorrow will surely be better. There's no way to go but UP!

The following helped me and I hope that it will help you too.

Thanks, Nim

Nim & John Bellows
Rossmoor Dem Club
Walnut Creek CA
_________________________

As the wheels of the electoral machine grind on, I thought you would
appreciate these beautiful and inspiring words by Clarissa Pinkola
Estes, Jungian psychologist and author of Women Who Run With The Wolves .

by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have
heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered.
They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world right now.
Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage
over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized,
visionary people.

You are right in your assessments. The lustre and hubris some have
aspired to while endorsing acts so heinous against children, elders,
everyday people, the poor, the unguarded, the helpless, is
breathtaking. Yet, I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not
spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially
do not lose hope. Most particularly because, the fact is that we were
made for these times. Yes. For years, we have been learning,
practicing, been in training for and just waiting to meet on this
exact plain of engagement...

I grew up on theGreat Lakesand recognize a seaworthy vessel when I see
one. Regarding awakened souls, there have never been more able vessels
in the waters than there are right now across the world. And they are
fully provisioned and able to signal one another as never before in
the history of humankind... Look out over the prow; there are millions
of boats of righteous souls on the waters with you. Even though your
veneers may shiver from every wave in this stormy roil, I assure you
that the long timbers composing your prow and rudder come from a
greater forest. That long-grained lumber is known to withstand storms,
to hold together, to hold its own, and to advance, regardless.

In any dark time, there is a tendency to veer toward fainting over how
much is wrong or unmended in the world. Do not focus on that. There is
a tendency too to fall into being weakened by dwelling on what is
outside your reach, by what cannot yet be. Do not focus there. That is
spending the wind without raising the sails. We are needed, that is
all we can know. And though we meet resistance, we more so will meet
great souls who will hail us, love us and guide us, and we will know
them when they appear. Didn't you say you were a believer? Didn't you
say you pledged to listen to a voice greater? Didn't you ask for
grace? Don't you remember that to be in grace means to submit to the
voice greater?...

Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of
stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.
Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to
assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely.
It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the
critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for
dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding
more, continuing. We know that it does not take "everyone on Earth" to
bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will
not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.

One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene
in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck
shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks,
can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to
catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these
- to be fierce and to show mercy toward others, both, are acts of
immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light
from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you
would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you
can do.

There will always be times when you feel discouraged. I too have felt
despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it; I
will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate. The
reason is this: In my uttermost bones I know something, as do you. It
is that there can be no despair when you remember why you came to
Earth, who you serve, and who sent you here. The good words we say and
the good deeds we do are not ours: They are the words and deeds of the
One who brought us here. In that spirit, I hope you will write this on
your wall: When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe,
there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for.

This comes with much love and a prayer that you remember who you came from, and why you came to this beautiful, needful Earth.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D
Author of the best seller Women Who Run with the Wolves

Family and Friends,

It's raining here in San Francisco, which is appropriate, I guess. After 18
months of volunteering for both the Dean and Kerry campaigns, it seems that
52 percent of voters prefer George W. Bush for president. Go figure.

To those of you who voted for Bush, congratulations. I hope you're right. I
don't think you are, of course ;-) but really hope you are. I would be happy
to be wrong in this situation. My greatest hopes for the next four years are
peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and Iraq, and real progress toward an
equitable solution in Israel and Palestine.

To those of you who have guided me, organized and volunteered with me, and
supported me in my political efforts over the last year and a half, a
heartfelt thank you is not enough to express the depth of my gratitude. I
want to acknowledge the tremendous contributions to our country of America
Coming Together, especially the team in Reno, Nevada, and the local
volunteer organizers of San Francisco for Democracy and Kerry SF. You are
impressive. Well done!

This has been an extraordinary experience for me. I have learned so much
about our democracy and political process that it often felt like I was
taking a very long and intense Civics course. Even better, I have met so
many admirable people I would not have met otherwise; many of you will no
doubt be lifelong friends. Most importantly, I found my voice, defined my
beliefs, clarified my thinking, and took action to make our country better.

Even though we've lost an election or two, we have made America better. The
more citizens who take an active interest and an active role in the
political process, the stronger our democracy becomes. Imagine what Election
Day would have looked like if Howard Dean had not run and if none of us had
volunteered. The Democratic Party would be dead; and, contrary to what some
may think, in a healthy democracy, you need at least two healthy parties.

To that end, let's keep a skeptical eye on our government at all levels and
on the political parties and let them know when we approve of their policies
and actions, and, more importantly, when we don't. In Lincoln, Nebraska, the
north entrance of the state capitol is engraved with this advice: "The
salvation of the state is watchfulness in the citizen." Keep your eyes open
and make your voices heard.

Alane

Alane Bowling
San Francisco for Democracy
America Coming Together - N. California
San Francisco CA

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we
are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and
servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

--Theodore Roosevelt, former Republican president, writing in an editorial
for the Kansas City Star, May 17, 1918, during World War I

Hello folks -

I have wanted to write to you all day, but the need for sleep got in the
way. Now, rested, I awoke to a little sunshine breaking through the gray and
rain of this day in San Francisco, with even a hint of a rainbow.

It is not lost on me that the day's weather has been like a metaphor for
what I also awoke to in my Inbox ... the words of determination, anger,
hope, and resolve from so many of you. The outpouring of these feelings is
the best medicine for all of us right now, and I appreciate it so much that
you are taking the time to share them with me.

By tomorrow I will begin posting your messages on our website at
www.seniorsforamerica.com for all of us to share. I hope that some of you
who received meaningful responses from people you wrote to during our
letter-writing projects will also share those.

Many of you have received Gov. Dean's strong words of encouragement and his
invitation for all to attend their DFA Meetups tonight. I share his
sentiments ... "This is not an ending"... we are a strong community and we
will endure. (please visit http://dfa.meetup.com/ to locate a DFA Meetup
near you ... held on the first Wed of each month at 7 pm.)

Finally, I'll leave you with the following words from Thomas Paine that
someone sent today ... that are as timely today as when they were first
written.

Thinking of you all,

Howard
_________________________

"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier
and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service
of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and
thanks of man and woman.

"Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this
consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious
the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is
dearness only that gives every thing its value.

"Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods;
and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article
as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."

--Thomas Paine
_________________________

Howard Vicini
San Francisco CA

Dear Howard,

Montana, one of the reddest states, has a new Democratic governor.

First-time candidates for state legislatures from Hawaii to Connecticut beat incumbent Republicans.

And a record number of us voted to change course -- more Americans voted against George Bush than any sitting president in history.

Today is not an ending.

Regardless of the outcome yesterday, we have begun to revive our democracy. While we did not get the result we wanted in the presidential race, we laid the groundwork for a new generation of Democratic leaders.

Democracy for America trained thousands of organizers and brought new leadership into the political process. And down the ballot, in state after state, we elected Dean Dozen candidates who will be the rising stars of the Democratic Party in years ahead.

Tens of millions of us are disappointed today because we put so much of ourselves into this election. We donated money, we talked to friends, we knocked on doors. We invested ourselves in the political process.

That process does not end today. These are not short-term investments. We will only create lasting change if that sense of obligation and responsibility becomes a permanent part of our lives.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

We will not be silent.

Thank you for everything you did for our cause in this election. But we are not stopping here.

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

Hello,

So much pain in my solar plexus. I simply couldn't understand. It felt a little like 9/11.

Now after listening to Randy Rhodes on AirAmerica radio I think it was stolen. As Bush said, they will do things and then we Dems will try to figure out how they did it.

It's all over -- our system of checks and balances -- senate, house, presidency and supreme court. I always sensed that this was our last opportunity to have an election. It was clear in me that the grassroots were studded with stars. Then --it didn't happen.

Knowing what you did, knowing what Latinos did and on and on I just don't know what happened.

Carolyn Lockwood-Pitkin
Vermont

PS My dear 84 year old friend came over and took me out to lunch and then I bought 3 plants to keep me company.

Dear Howard,

Earlier today I spoke to President Bush, and offered him and Laura our congratulations on their victory. We had a good conversation, and we talked about the danger of division in our country and the need, the desperate need, for unity for finding the common ground, coming together. Today, I hope that we can begin the healing.

In America, it is vital that every vote counts, and that every vote be counted. But the outcome should be decided by voters, not a protracted legal process. I would not give up this fight if there was a chance that we would prevail. But it is now clear that even when all the provisional ballots are counted, which they will be, there won't be enough outstanding votes for our campaign to be able to win Ohio. And therefore, we cannot win this election.

It was a privilege and a gift to spend two years traveling this country, coming to know so many of you. I wish I could just wrap you in my arms and embrace each and every one of you individually all across this nation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

To all of you, my volunteers and online supporters, all across this country who gave so much of themselves, thank you. Thanks to William Field, a six-year-old who collected $680, a quarter and a dollar at a time selling bracelets during the summer to help change America. Thanks to Michael Benson from Florida who I spied in a rope line holding a container of money. It turned out he raided his piggy bank and wanted to contribute. And thanks to Alana Wexler, who at 11 years old and started Kids for Kerry.

I thank all of you, who took time to travel, time off from work, and their own vacation time to work in states far and wide. You braved the hot days of summer and the cold days of the fall and the winter to knock on doors because you were determined tothe doors of opportunity to all Americans. You worked your hearts out, and I say, don't lose faith. What you did made a difference, and building on itself, we will go on to make a difference another day. I promise you, that time will come -- the election will come when your work and your ballots will change the world, and it's worth fighting for.

I'm proud of what we stood for in this campaign, and of what we accomplished. When we began, no one thought it was possible to even make this a close race, but we stood for real change, change that would make a real difference in the life of our nation, the lives of our families, and we defined that choice to America. I'll never forget the wonderful people who came to our rallies, who stood in our rope lines, who put their hopes in our hands, who invested in each and every one of us. I saw in them the truth that America is not only great, but it is good.

So here -- with a grateful heart, I leave this campaign with a prayer that has even greater meaning to me now that I've come to know our vast country so much better and that prayer is very simple: God bless America.

Thank you,

John Kerry

Hi Howard,

Today is a very sad day. I just sent this memo to the Democratic Party.

Best wishes, Millie

-------------------------

I think is time for the Democrats to become united and work hard (like the Republicans), not just during the election time, but every day. It would be helpful if there is more vigilance and band together in deciding who should be the next progressive candidates that have the qualities and believe in all the issues that is appealing to most of the Americans. I think it's time for the Democratic Party to join Democracy for America and make use of the Internet as a powerful medium to help identify progressive candidates.

Avoid endorsing fake democrats. Sometimes, during the primaries, Republicans will have one of their candidates run as a Democrat against a true Democrat. If the Republican candidate wins the primary, then the public will have two Republicans to choose from (that will be the fake Democrat). Such thing almost happened in the run for NY State Senate (34th District). Stephen B. Kaufman, a Republican, ran for the primaries as a Democrat and lost to a true democrat, Jeff Klein. Not only was Kaufman receiving funds and endorsements from the Republicans, but two established Democrats also endorsed him. Kaufman finally ran as a conservative-independent in the final elections. Thanks to a smart public that avoided electing a Republican for the 34th District. In other areas or states the public might not be as wise. That's why the Democratic Party has to be vigilant.

It seems to me that the Democratic party was too trusting (or too lazy) to keep track of what the Republican party has been up to for the last twenty years. When Pat Robertson (the evangelical leader) lost his bid for President, he said in his speech that he will start from the bottom up. Since then his supporters have infiltrated every position starting from the school board and all the way up. Vigilance, vigilance…


Ms. C.M. LaRuffa
Bronx NY

Am I disappointed? Yes.

I'll admit, though, this election cleared away a lot of confusion for me. Remember, as a former Republican, I didn't come into this with partisan loyalties; I just knew I could never support the Republican Party that apparently morphed into something I didn't recognize the minute I turned my back for a few seconds. Knowing that the majority of Republicans do support the actions and the decisions of the Bush administration has convinced me, absolutely, beyond any shred of doubt that I'm no Republican.

I'm not at all unhappy about the outcome of the election, really ... I think the most important thing that was accomplished was that we had a fair election and the results have been judged by all to accurately reflect the will of the people ... we chose, good or bad, our leadership for the next 4 years. More important, we retained our right to choose ... it would have been devastating had Kerry lost the popular vote and won the electoral vote, particularly if it was the result of a court decision ... our republic can't survive too many elections that are decided in that manner. The right of the people to determine uur collective futures is paramount to all others.

I believe this election accurately reflects the will of the people (thanks to all of you who helped the verified voting movement for that) ... and I think it's clear to me just what the people have chosen ... but it would seem like bitterness to go into that now, and I'm not bitter.

I still believe that the movement Doctor Dean started is as close to the spirit of the rebellious colonists who formed this nation as it is possible to get; it's the true American spirit ... one that will never bow its knee to a king or tyrant; and I believe it is vital that patriots never tire in their efforts to keep it alive.

For me, the point of no looking back was the day I had the opportunity to grasp Howard Dean's hand and look into his eyes ... for some men, and I'm one, that's the ONLY way they can feel comfortable about another man's character. I was still somewhat suspicious of Howard Dean until th! at day on the Alabama A&M campus in Huntsville (when our state campaign chairman, Steve Noles, introduced me as "someone who's done a lot of good things for the campaign in Alabama") ... it took seconds for me to know ... "he's the real thing".

Howard Dean doesn't have a typical politician's motives; he is doing what he believes is right. Senator-elect Obama is another Democrat who is the same. Let's celebrate Obama's victory not as another point in the game, but because we put a man of principle in a position of leadership. Personally, I think the better choice of presidential nominee would have been someone like him or Howard Dean, someone who wasn't a career Washington insider ... but we'll never know for sure. I do think, though, that the Democratic Party should look to someone like that in 2008.

Incidentally, Markos Moulitsas, in his blog, issued a call this morning for Governor Dean to replace Terry McAuliffe as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Things are lining up ... but 2008 seems like a long time away.

Never say die, Patriot.

Charles Aulds
Alabama

Dear Disappointed Dems,

Last night and this morning all I've been hearing is wonderment about the discrepancy between exit polls (which predicted a Kerry win) and the actual results (which ... well, you know).

Now if I were a scientist and I did a field study and got certain results, and then I checked my computer results and found consistent differences, I would check my computer programming. Who is checking the actual programming in the voting machines? Who validated and certified the programs? I think the machines should be taken (Freedom of Information) and the software programs should be checked again, especially where the exit polls and the results differed.

It would be very easy for a program to cheat when tallying the votes being cast. It could be done a million ways. A simple programming algorithm something like the following would do it:

A. Set up a Bush counter, a Kerry counter, and an X counter

B. If the voter votes for Bush, add 1 to the Bush counter
If the voter votes for Kerry, do the following routine:
If X counter is less than 99, add 1 to the X counter and go back
to B for the next voter
If X counter equals 99, add 1 to Bush counter
Put the 99 in the Kerry counter and reset the X counter to 0
Go back to instruction B and continue for the next voter

C. After the last vote is cast,
Print out the tally from the Bush counter
Print out the tally from the Kerry counter

In the example, one percent of the Kerry vote is redirected to Bush. The magic number doesn't have to be 99; it could be 50 or 75 or whatever. The total of the Bush counter and the Kerry counter will still equal the number of actual voters so it's hard to see that the counts have been distorted. Who has checked or is checking the programming?

Carol Boyle