Got a email from democracyforamerica.com. Dean is suppose to give a major speech about the future of the democratic party on Wednesday:

[quote]Dear Supporter,

Governor Dean will lay out a vision for the future of the Democratic Party this Wednesday at 12 p.m. Eastern in Washington, D.C.

He will outline not just a direction for our party, but a concrete destination: a party built from the ground up.

That means a party powered by millions of small donors, not millionaires. It means a party that speaks plainly and commits to concrete outcomes that affect real people. And it means a party that competes in every single race, for every single vote, in all fifty states.

You can watch live video of the speech on Wednesday morning at the Democracy for America web site:

www.democracyforamerica.com

Be sure to join us for the live webcast on Wednesday at 12 p.m. Eastern. Thank you.

Thank you,

Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democracy for America
[/quote]

This is the problem with Dean....just like before during the prmaries Dean did everything and sort of annointed himself the Democratic nominee before Iowa, and then we all saw what happened. I really hope that Dean is not trying to become the DNC leader by default here, and it sounds like he is. I respect and like Howard Dean, but something tells me its not a good idea. having founded Democracy for America, it should be his first prioroty to lead the way on Vote system reform....he's got the ability, the fundraising and the support base.....what's stopping him? instead im getting party reform? direction? and vision? I just think Dean is trying to align himself as leader before its been decided......again. :?

Well the only voice i'm hearing on the future of the Democratic party so far is Dean's. I'd much rather have his voice than no voice at all...

Democracy for America was founded to rebuild the grassroots of the democratic party, not `voter-reform`

[quote]he's got the ability, the fundraising and the support base.....what's stopping him? [/quote]

Thats everything we need in a DNC chairman.

And we have no idea what Wednesday's speech is going to be about. As far as we know it could be about Dean breaking off and forming his own party lol.

Guess we'll have to wait and see

well without any type of voting reform...we can kiss Democracy `good-bye`....He's got his first task ...he should get busy with it. :shock:

Well like I said, we have no idea what the speech is going to be about. This one line from the email has me a little worried:

[quote]He will outline not just a direction for our party, but a concrete destination: a party built from the ground up.
[/quote]

A party built from the ground up? Does that mean totally dismantling the Democratic party and rebuilding? Or forming a new party? Or reforming the grassroots? That sentence has so many meanings...

I think it means building from the grassroots....getting out there and building solid democratic organizations all across the country...especially in the south and in rural areas. I actually agree with this approach and I don't think the Democrats can suceed until we do this....you have to let ideas and people move up the chain rather than dictating it top down. That's why he emphasizes getting involved at a local level....find people to run for school boards, or town councils....have active precinct chairmen....we have to have some means of getting our message out as well as a means to grow talent at the state level. Right now, if you live in a small town and want to become involved in politics you almost have to go through the Republicans...so, not only are these people getting all the votes they are getting all the new talent as well. This has to be fixed.

I'd be happy with Dean

Anyone going to this speech? Is it even open?

Dean would be a great candidate for DNC chair, had he not run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004. As the governor of Vermont, he was a centrist, at best--to be completely honest about his record, he was a conservative Democrat.

But then he ran for president and he painted himself in a corner by portraying himself as a far `left-wing` liberal. If the DNC really wants to break away from the stereotypes that persist about the Party, then Dean can't be the Party's public face.

Dean's speech is basically going to be about how the Party needs to compete in all areas of the nation and not write off the South or the Midwest. I don't know exactly how Dean presumes he's the person that can bring the party into philosophically conservative areas, but hopefully he can enlighten me tomorrow.

If Dean was serious about helping Democrats, he'd run against Jeffords and recapture that Senate seat for the Party in Vermont.

To be fair, I don't believe Dean painted himself into that corner....rather the media did....and it was all based on what half the country accepts as truth....that going to Iraq was not the smartest thing to do!

Dean did appeal to young people, which I suppose in the minds of some translated into being "`far-left`"....as a mother of children in this age bracket I can honestly say that this, too, is kind of funny....in many ways these kids are more conservative then we are! What they are is bery pragmatic...and I think this is how Dean appealed to them...plain old pragmatism...see a problem and fix it....

[quote=VirginiaBeachDenise]I'd be happy with Dean [/quote]

I like Dean, too. But, again, he is a celebrity. And I think the party would be better to choose someone else. The `right-wing` media (well, practically ALL media if Clear Channel keeps adding stations) is going to make fun and they have the upper hand. Why give them ammunition?

Someone less known by the masses.

I don't know if this is related to his speech today. But it's relevant to the topic.

http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/arti...cle_15941.shtml

The Future Of The Democratic Party
By: Howard Dean
Published: Dec 6, 2004

Since Election Day, there has been a lot of predictable moaning and groaning about the future of the Democratic Party. Particularly predictable are the suggestions that we need to be more like Republicans in order to win. Democrats need to learn by our previous mistakes - we have tried being “`Republican-lite`” and it does not work. It is a mistake to run away from the things we believe and I think we can win in the `so-called` Republican states by being real Democrats.

We have to realize that there are no red states and no blue states, just American states. I believe the country is still more in sync with Democratic values than Republican values. Our task is to remind ourselves and the American people of the hallmark issues that distinguish Democrats from Republicans.

For example, Democrats historically tackle economic issues with bold, `common-sense` policies. Our last Democratic president created 22 million new jobs in this country. In the last four years, George W. Bush oversaw the loss of over 1.5 million. Democrats balance budgets, Republicans do not. Democrats consistently try to pass legislation that would provide some kind of affordable health care, Republicans do not. Democrats believe we ought to raise the minimum wage to help the average worker keep up with the cost of living, Republicans do not. Democrats believe corporations have too much power over our daily lives; Republicans do not - and to prove it, they have given away billions of dollars of our tax money to the biggest corporations in the world over the last four years.

On each of these issues, the majority of the American people are with Democrats not Republicans. Democrats have the right beliefs to win; we just execute a poor public relations plan. And, despite the enormous improvement in our ground game, the Republicans executed a more effective strategy. Republicans are far more successful because they work in a more unified, disciplined way with local supporters, especially with their base. They also avoid the Democrats chronic pitfall of listening to pundits from inside the Beltway.

I truly believe that Democrats can return to national dominance. But, we must not be afraid to compete in every race, in every district and in every state. We can start rebuilding the Democratic Party from the bottom up. Through my organization, Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com, we have already started that process. This past election cycle, we endorsed over 100 candidates, at all levels of government – from school board to U.S. Senate and we contributed to almost 750 candidates around the country.

These candidates helped return Democrats to the majority in the Vermont, North Carolina, Oregon and Colorado State Houses; as well as the Senate in Oregon, Washington and Colorado. These candidates included more women than men, 25 percent were African American and there were members of nearly every other minority group, including American Indians. Nearly ten percent of the victors were from the gay and lesbian community, which included wins in places like Idaho and Missouri. And, 15 of the candidates we endorsed that won never ran for office before.

Democrats can win by simply being Democrats. Reinventing ourselves as Republicans is the death knell of our party. We need to get back to basics and start listening to people from outside Washington. Only then can we save the greatest nation on the face of the earth from the twin Republican perils of enormous deficits and constant misadventures abroad.

[quote]I like Dean, too. But, again, he is a celebrity. And I think the party would be better to choose someone else. The `right-wing` media (well, practically ALL media if Clear Channel keeps adding stations) is going to make fun and they have the upper hand. Why give them ammunition?
[/quote]

This is exactly what we need to stop doing. Why should we give the Repubilcans who they want? We're trying to appease Republicans and thats why we "lost" this election. The only reason why they will attack Dean is because they are afraid of him. He won't sit back and give them what they want like the current DNC chair does...

[quote=William477][quote]I like Dean, too. But, again, he is a celebrity. And I think the party would be better to choose someone else. The `right-wing` media (well, practically ALL media if Clear Channel keeps adding stations) is going to make fun and they have the upper hand. Why give them ammunition?
[/quote]

This is exactly what we need to stop doing. Why should we give the Repubilcans who they want? We're trying to appease Republicans and thats why we "lost" this election. The only reason why they will attack Dean is because they are afraid of him. He won't sit back and give them what they want like the current DNC chair does...[/quote]

It could work. But I do worry about my part of the country, the "south." I know he is gifted. Maybe there is more to Dean than we have already seen. I do like it that he is fearless.

Dean was my #1 choice in the beginning.
I think he'll DELETE the old guard Dems who screwed up the election. How many times did we find stuff of importance on the net and had no way to pass the info on to the Party. The DNC wanted our money and support but really gave us no voice. Dean was the first to give us recognition. I'm behind him 100%. I hope Dean gives the party back to the young, where it belongs. We understand the Rebuplicans tricks and tactics. :twisted: As a professor he listens to the students who will become the leaders of tomarrow.

I guess how you feel about Dean as DNC chair is directly correlated to two things:

1. Why you think Democrats lost this election and
2. Whether you live in a red state or blue state

If Howard Dean is the DNC Chair, I think Democrats will make gains in the Northeast and West--popularly, I think we'll gain a lot. Unfortunately, that doesn't win elections. With Dean as DNC Chair, Democrats in the South and Midwest take a hit.

I hate the way he patronizes conservative Democrats (who exist in droves in the South), but then calls for Party unity. There are "lite Republicans" in our Party and we need their contribution (both financial and otherwise) to compete nationally.

Where the heck is the link to this thing? I'd love to hear the speech. Will Air America be broadcasting it?

[IMG]http://www.blogforamerica.com/listen_now.gif[/IMG]

Here's the transcript of Dean's speech.

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/feature..._transcript.php

[quote]
Thank you for that introduction. It's a pleasure to be here.

Let me tell you what my plan for this Party is:

We're going to win in Mississippi
...and Alabama
...and Idaho
...and South Carolina.


Four years ago, the President won 49 percent of the vote. The Republican Party treated it like it was a mandate, and we let them get away with it.

Fifty one percent is not a mandate either. And this time we're not going to let them get away with it.

Our challenge today is not to `re-hash` what has happened, but to look forward, to make the Democratic Party a `50-state` party again, and, most importantly, to win.

To win the White House and a majority in Congress, yes. But also to do the real work that will make these victories possible -- to put Democratic ideas and Democratic candidates in every office -- whether it be Secretary of State, supervisor of elections, county commissioner or school board member.

Here in Washington, it seems that after every losing election, there's a consensus reached among `decision-makers` in the Democratic Party is that the way to win is to be more like Republicans.

I suppose you could call that philosophy: if you didn't beat 'em, join them.

I'm not one for making predictions -- but if we accept that philosophy this time around, another Democrat will be standing here in four years giving this same speech. we cannot win by being "`Republican-lite`." We've tried it; it doesn't work.

The question is not whether we move left or right. It's not about our direction. What we need to start focusing on... is the destination.

There are some practical elements to the destination.

The destination of the Democratic Party requires that it be financially viable, able to raise money not only from big donors but small contributors, not only through dinners and telephone solicitations and direct mail, but also through the Internet and `person-to`-person outreach.

The destination of the Democratic Party means making it a party that can communicate with its supporters and with all Americans. Politics is at its best when we create and inspire a sense of community. The tools that were pioneered in my campaign -- like blogs, and meetups, and streaming video -- are just a start. We must use all of the power and potential of technology as part of an aggressive outreach to meet and include voters, to work with the state parties, and to influence media coverage.

The most practical destination is winning elective office. And we must do that at every level of government. The way we will rebuild the Democratic Party is not from consultants down, but from the ground up.

We have some successes to build on. We raised more money than the RNC, and we did so by attracting thousands of new small donors. This is the first time in my memory that the DNC is not coming out of a national campaign in debt. We trained tens of thousands of new activists. We put together the most sophisticated `get-out`-`the-vote` operation our Party has ever had. We registered millions of new voters, including a record number of minority and young voters. And we saw those new voters overwhelmingly vote Democrat.

Now we need to build on our successes while transforming the Democratic Party into a grassroots organization that can win in 50 states.

I have seen all the doomsday predictions that the Democratic Party could shrink to become a regional Party. A Party of the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest.

We cannot be a Party that seeks the presidency by running an `18-state` campaign. We cannot be a party that cedes a single state, a single District, a single precinct, nor should we cede a single voter.

As many of the candidates supported by my organization Democracy for America showed -- people in places that we've too long ignored are hungry for an alternative; they're hungry for new ideas and new candidates, and they're willing to elect Democrats.

Since we started Dean for America last March, we raised over $5 million, mostly from small donors. That money was given to 748 candidates in 46 states and at every level of government.

We helped a Democratic governor get elected in Montana and a Democratic mayor get elected in Salt Lake County, Utah.

We helped Lori Saldana in San Diego. Lori, a Latina grassroots environmental organizer was outspent in both the primary and the general, won a seat on the state assembly.
We also helped Anita Kelly become the first `African-American` woman elected to her circuit court in Montgomery Alabama.

Fifteen of the candidates who we helped win last month never ran for elective office before.

And in Texas, a little known candidate who had been written off completely ran the first competitive race against Tom Delay in over a decade.

There are no red states or blue states, just American states. And if we can compete at all levels and in the most conservative parts of the country, we can win ... at any level and anywhere.

People will vote for Democratic candidates in Texas, and Alabama, and Utah if we knock on their door, introduce ourselves, and tell them what we believe.

There is another destination beyond strong finances, outreach, and campaigns.

That destination is a better, stronger, smarter, safer, healthier America.

An America where we don't turn our back on our own people.

That's the America we can only build with conviction.

When some people say we should change direction, in essence they are arguing that our basic or guiding principles can be altered or modified.

They can't.

On issue after issue, we are where the majority of the American people are.

What I want to know is at what point did it become a radical notion to stand up for what we believe?

Over fifty years ago, Harry Truman said, "We are not going to get anywhere by trimming or appeasing. And we don't need to try it."

Yet here we are still making the same mistakes.

Let me tell you something: there's only one thing Republican power brokers want more than for us to lurch to the left -- and that's for us to lurch to the right.

What they fear most is that we may really begin fighting for what we believe -- the fiscally responsible, socially progressive values for which Democrats have always stood and fought.

I'll give this to Republicans. They know the America they want. They want a government so small that, in the words of one prominent Republican, it can be drowned in a bathtub.

They want a government that runs big deficits, but is small enough to fit into your bedroom.
They want a government that is of, by, and for their special interest friends.

They want a government that preaches compassion but practices division.

They want wealth rewarded over work.

And they are willing to use any means to get there.

In going from record surpluses to record deficits, the Republican Party has relinquished the mantle of fiscal responsibility.

And now they're talking about borrowing another $2 trillion to take benefits away from our Senior Citizens.

In going from record job creation to record job loss, they have abandoned the mantle of economic responsibility.

In cutting health care, education, and community policing programs... and in failing to invest in America's inner cities, or distressed rural communities... they certainly have no desire to even claim the mantle of social responsibility.

In their refusal to embrace real electoral reform or conduct the business in government in the light of day, they are hardly the model of civic responsibility.

In their willingness to change the rules so that their indicted leaders can stay in power, they have even given up any claim on personal responsibility.

And in starting an international conflict based on misleading information, I believe they have abdicated America's moral responsibility, as well.

There is a Party of fiscal responsibility... economic responsibility.... social responsibility... civic responsibility... personal responsibility... and moral responsibility.

It's the Democratic Party.

We need to be able to say strongly, firmly, and proudly what we believe.

Because we are what we believe.

And we believe every person in America 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.

We believe the path to a better future goes directly through our public schools. I have nothing against private schools, parochial schools and home schooling. Parents with the means and inclination should choose whatever they believe is best for their children. But those choices must never come at the expense of what has been -- and must always be -- the great equalizer in our society -- public education.

We believe that if you put in a lifetime of work, you have earned a retirement of dignity -- not one that is put at risk by your government or unethical business practices.

The first time our nation balanced its budget, it was Andrew Jackson, father of the Democratic Party, who did it. The last time our nation balanced its budget, it was Bill Clinton who did it. I did it every year as Governor. Democrats believe in fiscal responsibility and we're the only ones who have delivered it.

We believe that every single American has a voice and that it should be heard in the halls of power everyday. And it most certainly must be heard on Election Day. Democracies around the world look to us as a model. How can we be worthy of their aspirations when we have done enough to guarantee accurate elections for our own citizens.

We believe in a strong and secure America... And we believe we will be stronger by having a moral foreign policy.

We need to embrace real political reform -- because only real reform will pry government from the grasp of the special interests who have made a mockery of reform and progress for far too long.

The pundits have said that this election was decided on the issue of moral values. I don't believe that. It is a moral value to provide health care. It is a moral value to educate our young people. The sense of community that comes from full participation in our Democracy is a moral value. Honesty is a moral value.

If this election had been decided on moral values, Democrats would have won.

It is time for the Democratic Party to start framing the debate.

We have to learn to punch our way off the ropes.

We have to set the agenda.

We should not hesitate to call for reform -- reform in elections, reform in health care and education, reforms that promote ethical business practices. And, yes, we need to talk about some internal reform in the Democratic Party as well, and I'll be discussing that more specifically in the days ahead.

Reform is the hallmark of a strong Democratic Party.

Those who stand in the way of reform cannot be the focus of our attention for only four months out of every four years.

Reform is a daily battle.

And we must pursue those reforms with conviction -- every day, at all levels, in 50 states.

A little while back, at a fundraiser, a woman came up to me. She identified herself as an evangelical Christian from Texas. I asked her what you are all wondering -- why was she supporting me. She said there were two reasons. The first was that she had a child who had `poly-cystic` kidney disease, and what that illness made it impossible for their family to get health care.

The second thing she said was, "The other reason we're with you is because evangelical Christians are people of deep conviction, and you're a person of deep conviction. I may not agree with you on everything, but what we want more than anything else from our government is that when something happens to our family or something happens to our country -- it's that the people in office have deep conviction."

We are what we believe. And the American people know it.

And I believe that over the next two... four... ten years...

Election by election...

State by state...

Precinct by precinct...

Door by door...

Vote by vote...

We're going to lift our Party up...

And we're going to take this country back for the people who built it.

[/quote]

[quote]I hate the way he patronizes conservative Democrats (who exist in droves in the South), but then calls for Party unity. There are "lite Republicans" in our Party and we need their contribution (both financial and otherwise) to compete nationally.[/quote]

The "lite Republicans" are why we lost this election. The "lite Republicans" are why Bush passed so many ridiculous laws. I believe there is a quote from Roosevelt or Truman that says "When people have the choice between a Republican and a lite Republican, they'll chose the Republican every time."

We can make up for losses in the south if we can gain in the west. If we were able to permanently put Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona in our column, we wouldn't have a need for southern states(if I did my math correctly and provided we retain everything Gore + Kerry got)

Oh, I just tried watching the speech but all I got was a audio file. Is that how it is supposed to be?

Great speech....

Again...how did healthcare and education become "radical" ideas?

[quote]What I want to know is at what point did it become a radical notion to stand up for what we believe?

Over fifty years ago, Harry Truman said, "We are not going to get anywhere by trimming or appeasing. And we don't need to try it."

Yet here we are still making the same mistakes.

Let me tell you something: there's only one thing Republican power brokers want more than for us to lurch to the left -- and that's for us to lurch to the right.

What they fear most is that we may really begin fighting for what we believe -- the fiscally responsible, socially progressive values for which Democrats have always stood and fought. [/quote]

The man with the right plan, he's very good and also speaking the truth.

He's speaking the truth....and with conviction, I might add....

Great speech... any major media outlets cover it?

I love Howard Dean. I still don't think he'll be President but he's going to be a major player for years to come. I'm glad to have him around.

I haven't been watching Cable news lately, too much "mandate" coverage so I wouldn't know if the Dean speech was reported on. I didn't see anything on the msnbc, or cnn sites though

I attended the Dean speech today. It was held right around the corner from where I work.

I really admire Dean's intellect and his depth of thinking. He's a great idea man. But also has a proven record in Vermont.

The only `well-known` media person I saw there was Major Garrett, reporter from Fox News. I thought Major usually covers the White House, but I think he also covers politics. I also recognized a democratic strategist (can't think of his name) who appears as an analyst occasionally on various cable tv political shows.

I found out while I was there that CNN broadcasts their Crossfire show every day live from that same auditorium on the campus of George Washington University in the School of Poliitcal Management building (Media and Comm Bldg) So if anyone I especially want to see is appearing on Crossfire, I'll try to slip over there from work just around the corner!

[quote=William477][quote]I hate the way he patronizes conservative Democrats (who exist in droves in the South), but then calls for Party unity. There are "lite Republicans" in our Party and we need their contribution (both financial and otherwise) to compete nationally.[/quote]

The "lite Republicans" are why we lost this election. The "lite Republicans" are why Bush passed so many ridiculous laws. I believe there is a quote from Roosevelt or Truman that says "When people have the choice between a Republican and a lite Republican, they'll chose the Republican every time."

We can make up for losses in the south if we can gain in the west. If we were able to permanently put Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona in our column, we wouldn't have a need for southern states(if I did my math correctly and provided we retain everything Gore + Kerry got)[/quote]

I don't like this strategy. It's just more of the same....There are democrats in the South. The Dallas area was almost evenly divided between Bush and Kerry on November 2 with Bush winning by 2 or 3 points. I think some of us felt very neglected by the Democratic Party this year. :cry: And I was inundated by calls from high profile Republicans in the 2 days before the election. Maybe this is how the 3 million more than Kerry in the popular vote was accomplished - anyone even thinking about voting for Kerry was reminded by powerful Republicans to stay with Bush. These calls were personal and persuasive.

Actually, I called the Republican Party of Texas and asked them to cease and desist with these calls. A Republican official called me and left a message and wanted to discuss it. I didn't return his call.

Im still going to stand by my opinion that Howard Dean should not be our party's leader. I...like some others here, respect and admire him for lots of reasons, he too, was my first choice during the start of the race for president. but after many months of scrutiny, He only proved to me that he was not qualified...for just about as many reasons as there were reasons to choose him. Its true he and his campaign, mainly with the help of Joe Trippie, raised several million online dollars, and actualy ran a great grassroots campaign, that carried the look and feel of a presidential contender. but regardless of the role the media played in the demise of Howard Dean, it really ended up being an example of what and how not to run a campaign...and I just cant seem to forgive and forget that. The squandering of all those millions of dollars is not a qualification, in my opinion to lead the DNC. Howard Dean would be much better put to use, leading and directing Democracy for America, and pursuing issues valuable to the party, such as the voting reform, and some other issues that we have concerning grassroots efforts localy. I do not...and repeat this adamently....I do not want Howard Dean as our party's chairmen and do not think it wise to go that route....even if he supported the nomination of John Edwards, which is who any candidate in my view would have to support. I think some of those people who do want him as chairmen, have not clearly thought it out and looked at the broader picture.

[quote=andrew6565]Im still going to stand by my opinion that Howard Dean should not be our party's leader.[/quote]

They don't decide until February. Isn't that right? I'm glad there is still time to make this decision.

It would certainly be an interesting 4 years if Dean is chosen as DNC head. He would definitely shake things up. But he may be able to do more good if he stays with his Democracy For America organization, which is dedicated to getting Democrats elected in local and state races across the country. Most people who eventually run for higher offices start out in these local races. It's another part of the effort to rebuild the Democratic Party from the ground up.