[quote]Democrats Elect Howard Dean As Chairman
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Democrats elected Howard Dean chairman of their national party on Saturday, casting their lot with a skilled `fund-raiser` and organizer whose sometimes caustic, blunt comments can lead to controversy.
The `447-member` Democratic National Committee chose Dean on a voice vote to replace outgoing party chief Terry McAuliffe. The former Vermont governor and presidential candidate had promised to rebuild the state parties, take the offensive against Republicans, and better explain party positions on issues.
Democrats are eager to renew their campaign to regain political power, though some admit to a bit of anxiety. President Bush just won his second term. Republicans are firmly in control of the House and the Senate. And the GOP is gaining strength in conservative states in the South and West.
http://tinyurl.com/4htcf [/quote]
Full Version: Democrats Elect Howard Dean As Chairman
[quote]Remarks by Governor Howard Dean Accepting the Chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee
I. INTRODUCTION/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
If you told me one year ago that I'd be standing here today, as your choice for Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, I wouldn't have believed you. And neither would have a lot of other people.
But let me say that standing here with the opportunity to lead this Party, is a great honor.
I am thankful.
I am humbled.
And I'm ready to get to work.
This was the first race for DNC chairman truly driven by the grassroots of this Party. And so, I want you to know this is not my chairmanship, this is our chairmanship.
You have given me an enormous responsibility. But it is a responsibility we share.
We can change this Party… but only by working together and competing in all 50 states. We can change this Party… but only by working together and becoming a national party again. We can change this Party… but only by working together at thelocal level.
If we want to win nationally, we have to win locally.
With your help, I am certain that today will not mark the end of the process of selecting a DNC chair. Today will be the beginning of the reemergence of the Democratic Party.
We have a lot of work to do.
But we have a bright future… exemplified by the other candidates who joined me in this race. They are all great Democrats.
I want to thank Terry McAuliffe. He has given this party so much. Not to mention every waking day of the past four years as our Chairman.
He has also given us something else — a Party in strong financial shape, with the infrastructure to meet the challenges of the future. That is no small gift. Thank you, Terry McAuliffe.
I also want to thank my family. I wouldn't be here without their support, or their belief in a more fair and just America.
I especially want to thank my wife, Judy, for her patience and her love. She's here with me today.
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.
But right now, as important as all of that is… it is not enough. We have to move forward. We cannot win if all we are is against the current President.
Republicans wandered around in the political wilderness for 40 years before they took back Congress. But the reason we lost control is that we forgot why we were entrusted with control to begin with.
The American people can't afford to wait for 40 years for us to put Washington back to work for them.
It can't take us that long.
And it won't take us that long… not if we stand up for what we believe in… organize at the local level… and recognize that this Party's strength doesn't come from the consultants down, it comes from grassroots up.
II. STANDING UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN
The first thing we have to do is stand up for what we believe in.
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.
The Republicans know the America they want… and they are not afraid to use any means to get there.
But there is something that this Administration and the Republican Party are very afraid of. It is that we may actually begin fighting for what we believe &8212; the fiscally responsible, socially progressive values for which Democrats have always stood and fought.
Because we are what we believe.
We Democrats believe in fiscal responsibility and we're the only ones who have delivered it.
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. Democratic governors do it every single year.
Not one Republican President has balanced the budget in almost 40 years. Borrow and spend. Borrow and spend. Borrow and spend. Americans cannot trust the Republicans with their money.
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 airlinessafer. 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.
We believe that a good job is the foundation of a strong family, a strong community, and a strong country. We're going towork 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.
We believe that every single American has a voice and that it should be heard in the halls of power every day. And most importantly, it ought to be heard by guaranteeing an open and fair vote on Election Day.
And finally, we believe that a lifetime of work earns you a retirement of dignity. We won't let that be put at risk by leaders who continually invent false crises to justify policies that don't work… in this case, borrowing from our children and shredding our country's social safety net in the process.
The President's plan for Social Security does nothing to guarantee Social Security's future. But it will cut benefits andcost an estimated 2 trillion dollars. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, we will have to borrow 4.5 trillion dollars to finance the privatization of Social Security in the first 20 years alone.
Let me give you a sense of how much money that is. There are 118 million people under the age of 30 in America today. That means borrowing nearly $45,000 in each of their names.
That's a legacy of debt our children don't deserve.
Social Security is one of the proudest achievements of the Democratic Party, and we don't intend to let it fall victim toa dishonest scheme that only serves to heap greater debt on America's young people.
We need to set the agenda. And we're going to work with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and our Democratic governors and local elected officials to do just that.
I met with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid this past week, and we are looking forward to standing together in the battles ahead.
We're all going to need to be united. And we're going to need to be organized.
Really organized.
III. ORGANIZE
That means we frame the issues; Republicans will not tell America what our agenda is. We will do that.
Organizing means raising 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.
Organizing means transforming us into 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 in part pioneered in my campaign &8212; like blogs and Meetups and most importantly, community building &8212; are just a start.
We are going to use all of the power and potential of technology as part of an aggressive outreach to meet and include voters, to work with your state parties, and to get our message out.
We cannot run 18 state presidential campaigns and expect to win.
You all know we have a strategy for every state and territory. It's very simple. Show up.
People will vote for Democratic candidates in Texas, and Utah, and West Virginia if we knock on their door, introduce ourselves and tell them what we believe. That's what organization allows us to do.
IV. GRASSROOTS
But all of the ideas and organization in the world won't matter if people don't see our ideas as relevant to them, or thepolitical process as connected to them.
So, third, we are going to recognize that our strength lies at the grassroots.
If we are to take our country back for everyday working Americans, Democrats will have to match or exceed the Republicansability to motivate voters.
You might find this hard to believe… but I'm not much of a zen person. But I've found that the path to power, oddly enough, is to trust others with it. That means putting the power where the voters are.
That is something Republicans will never understand.
But we do.
V. CONCLUSION
Standing up for our beliefs… organizing… and transforming our party into a grassroots organization that can win in all 50 states: That's how we will rebuild the Democratic Party.
We will rebuild our Party because only we are the party of reform. Republicans can stop progress, but only Democrats can start it again.
And we will rebuild our Party because our greatest strength is something the Republicans can and will never match — the diversity represented in this room.
Look around — we look like America. We are America. Republicans stop progress, but only Democrats start it.
It's going to take a lot of work. And I'm going to be asking a lot of all of you. It is not my chairmanship; it is ours.
Election by election… State by state… Precinct by precinct… Door by door… Vote by vote…
We're going to take this country back for the people who built it.
http://democrats.org/news//200502120001.html
[/quote]
I. INTRODUCTION/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
If you told me one year ago that I'd be standing here today, as your choice for Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, I wouldn't have believed you. And neither would have a lot of other people.
But let me say that standing here with the opportunity to lead this Party, is a great honor.
I am thankful.
I am humbled.
And I'm ready to get to work.
This was the first race for DNC chairman truly driven by the grassroots of this Party. And so, I want you to know this is not my chairmanship, this is our chairmanship.
You have given me an enormous responsibility. But it is a responsibility we share.
We can change this Party… but only by working together and competing in all 50 states. We can change this Party… but only by working together and becoming a national party again. We can change this Party… but only by working together at thelocal level.
If we want to win nationally, we have to win locally.
With your help, I am certain that today will not mark the end of the process of selecting a DNC chair. Today will be the beginning of the reemergence of the Democratic Party.
We have a lot of work to do.
But we have a bright future… exemplified by the other candidates who joined me in this race. They are all great Democrats.
I want to thank Terry McAuliffe. He has given this party so much. Not to mention every waking day of the past four years as our Chairman.
He has also given us something else — a Party in strong financial shape, with the infrastructure to meet the challenges of the future. That is no small gift. Thank you, Terry McAuliffe.
I also want to thank my family. I wouldn't be here without their support, or their belief in a more fair and just America.
I especially want to thank my wife, Judy, for her patience and her love. She's here with me today.
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.
But right now, as important as all of that is… it is not enough. We have to move forward. We cannot win if all we are is against the current President.
Republicans wandered around in the political wilderness for 40 years before they took back Congress. But the reason we lost control is that we forgot why we were entrusted with control to begin with.
The American people can't afford to wait for 40 years for us to put Washington back to work for them.
It can't take us that long.
And it won't take us that long… not if we stand up for what we believe in… organize at the local level… and recognize that this Party's strength doesn't come from the consultants down, it comes from grassroots up.
II. STANDING UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN
The first thing we have to do is stand up for what we believe in.
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.
The Republicans know the America they want… and they are not afraid to use any means to get there.
But there is something that this Administration and the Republican Party are very afraid of. It is that we may actually begin fighting for what we believe &8212; the fiscally responsible, socially progressive values for which Democrats have always stood and fought.
Because we are what we believe.
We Democrats believe in fiscal responsibility and we're the only ones who have delivered it.
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. Democratic governors do it every single year.
Not one Republican President has balanced the budget in almost 40 years. Borrow and spend. Borrow and spend. Borrow and spend. Americans cannot trust the Republicans with their money.
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 airlinessafer. 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.
We believe that a good job is the foundation of a strong family, a strong community, and a strong country. We're going towork 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.
We believe that every single American has a voice and that it should be heard in the halls of power every day. And most importantly, it ought to be heard by guaranteeing an open and fair vote on Election Day.
And finally, we believe that a lifetime of work earns you a retirement of dignity. We won't let that be put at risk by leaders who continually invent false crises to justify policies that don't work… in this case, borrowing from our children and shredding our country's social safety net in the process.
The President's plan for Social Security does nothing to guarantee Social Security's future. But it will cut benefits andcost an estimated 2 trillion dollars. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, we will have to borrow 4.5 trillion dollars to finance the privatization of Social Security in the first 20 years alone.
Let me give you a sense of how much money that is. There are 118 million people under the age of 30 in America today. That means borrowing nearly $45,000 in each of their names.
That's a legacy of debt our children don't deserve.
Social Security is one of the proudest achievements of the Democratic Party, and we don't intend to let it fall victim toa dishonest scheme that only serves to heap greater debt on America's young people.
We need to set the agenda. And we're going to work with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and our Democratic governors and local elected officials to do just that.
I met with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid this past week, and we are looking forward to standing together in the battles ahead.
We're all going to need to be united. And we're going to need to be organized.
Really organized.
III. ORGANIZE
That means we frame the issues; Republicans will not tell America what our agenda is. We will do that.
Organizing means raising 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.
Organizing means transforming us into 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 in part pioneered in my campaign &8212; like blogs and Meetups and most importantly, community building &8212; are just a start.
We are going to use all of the power and potential of technology as part of an aggressive outreach to meet and include voters, to work with your state parties, and to get our message out.
We cannot run 18 state presidential campaigns and expect to win.
You all know we have a strategy for every state and territory. It's very simple. Show up.
People will vote for Democratic candidates in Texas, and Utah, and West Virginia if we knock on their door, introduce ourselves and tell them what we believe. That's what organization allows us to do.
IV. GRASSROOTS
But all of the ideas and organization in the world won't matter if people don't see our ideas as relevant to them, or thepolitical process as connected to them.
So, third, we are going to recognize that our strength lies at the grassroots.
If we are to take our country back for everyday working Americans, Democrats will have to match or exceed the Republicansability to motivate voters.
You might find this hard to believe… but I'm not much of a zen person. But I've found that the path to power, oddly enough, is to trust others with it. That means putting the power where the voters are.
That is something Republicans will never understand.
But we do.
V. CONCLUSION
Standing up for our beliefs… organizing… and transforming our party into a grassroots organization that can win in all 50 states: That's how we will rebuild the Democratic Party.
We will rebuild our Party because only we are the party of reform. Republicans can stop progress, but only Democrats can start it again.
And we will rebuild our Party because our greatest strength is something the Republicans can and will never match — the diversity represented in this room.
Look around — we look like America. We are America. Republicans stop progress, but only Democrats start it.
It's going to take a lot of work. And I'm going to be asking a lot of all of you. It is not my chairmanship; it is ours.
Election by election… State by state… Precinct by precinct… Door by door… Vote by vote…
We're going to take this country back for the people who built it.
http://democrats.org/news//200502120001.html
[/quote]
I'm so very encouraged by this news. I think this is the single most effective thing the Democrats could have done at this particular time to restore my faith that the party wants to represent the people and wants to win. It seems the vast majority of ordinary Democrats wanted Dean and we got him. Perhaps we've also finally learned the lesson that when the Republicans try to smear someone, it means they're afraid of that person. Go Howard Go!
What I like best about it - - the Clinton's opposed him!
[quote=sirius]I'm so very encouraged by this news. I think this is the single most effective thing the Democrats could have done at this particular time to restore my faith that the party wants to represent the people and wants to win. It seems the vast majority of ordinary Democrats wanted Dean and we got him. Perhaps we've also finally learned the lesson that when the Republicans try to smear someone, it means they're afraid of that person. Go Howard Go![/quote]
And this is what had to happen....it has to become the party OF the people...not a party that deems itself simply FOR the people...I hope that we can truly start the kind of building that we need to do at the local and state level....we know what our issues are and have more motivation than anyone to see them addressed.
And this is what had to happen....it has to become the party OF the people...not a party that deems itself simply FOR the people...I hope that we can truly start the kind of building that we need to do at the local and state level....we know what our issues are and have more motivation than anyone to see them addressed.
Anyone is an improvement on McAwful, but I have my reservations about Dean. I think the danger with him is that he will push the Democratic Party too far to the left when it actually needs to become more centrist to attract votes. And, how is Dean going to play in states like Tennessee, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico etc? Can he really motivate the Democratic base and independent voters in the South and MidWest?
The jury's still out on Howard, IMHO!
The jury's still out on Howard, IMHO!
Well Evan, I can't speak for every state but I can for mine. This is Bush country, but Dean is the one who moved people to vote. I've stated this before but I will again - my neighbor had never voted and she's retired, she loved Dean. I played heck getting her to vote for Kerry after Dean dropped out. The young kids love Dean - IMO, he's going to do fine.
A lot of people don't get it that Dean is not that far to the left. He is a centrist. When he was governor of VT, he ran, won and governed as a centrist. The idea that he is a leftist is the product of the `right-wing` spin machine. He strongly supports core Democratic values, and he's not afraid to state that clearly.
The more the `right-wing` tries to smear someone, the more afraid they are of him. I expect they will try very hard to smear Dean, as they did when he was running for President. I think rebuilding the grassroots of the party is the only way to break the `brain-washing` that has pushed this country so far to the right.
The more the `right-wing` tries to smear someone, the more afraid they are of him. I expect they will try very hard to smear Dean, as they did when he was running for President. I think rebuilding the grassroots of the party is the only way to break the `brain-washing` that has pushed this country so far to the right.
Simply this ..... I never heard anything like I just read from McAwful in the past four years. GO Dean!
Yep the jury may still be out on him, but at least he is doing
something visible and maybe Terry did some good things too, but ya know what, I bet that the primaries aren't going to be a slam dunk decided on just a few states next time around.
How many of us were so disgusted that we didn't get to see whoever we were backing as Kerry had already 'won' and therefore the primaries were just an exercise in futility so to speak (voting is NEVER futile).
I think it is going to be very interesting to watch and I would bet my next paycheck, the good dr. ain't gonna take Rove and Melamine man laying down....and THAT folks, is exactly the injection this country needs. Someone who will expose these guys and be vocal enough to keep at our wonderful media enough to make noise until someone listens....all the while working with our people in Congress.
Yep the jury may still be out on him, but at least he is doing
something visible and maybe Terry did some good things too, but ya know what, I bet that the primaries aren't going to be a slam dunk decided on just a few states next time around.
How many of us were so disgusted that we didn't get to see whoever we were backing as Kerry had already 'won' and therefore the primaries were just an exercise in futility so to speak (voting is NEVER futile).
I think it is going to be very interesting to watch and I would bet my next paycheck, the good dr. ain't gonna take Rove and Melamine man laying down....and THAT folks, is exactly the injection this country needs. Someone who will expose these guys and be vocal enough to keep at our wonderful media enough to make noise until someone listens....all the while working with our people in Congress.
I can only wish that everything Dean said...he acts upon and moves the party...not in any one direction, but moves it inspiringly. We are the party that has the values and the morals that Edwards spoke of recently....not a party which seeks a direction towards left, right or center. Looking back to the primaries...it may have been a mistake having twelve or more candidates on the Democratic side running for president.....it often made it appear the party had no clear choice of what,who and where it needed to be. I definately would rather see all of the Democrats Unite around a candidate that we have pre- surmised can win....and win against any Republican they put up. .....not a cast of candidates with different approaches and ideas to the Republican's failed policies. The Democratic party MUST unite with one candidate early on...and eliminate a circus type atmosphere during the primary season. There is no alternative to John Reid Edwards.....and thats just being factual.....The Democrats need to understand this now and not later...and go with a clear winner who can, and will unite this country and better our nation.
It always bothered me early on in the 2004 primaries that so many candidates emerged....and it gave the impression that the party was in disarray. I hope that this time....we need not worry about...and emerge from the very start with John Edwards leading the way. All of the rehtoric and inpiring speeches from Dean wont mean anything, if they fail once again to realize.....who is clearly the best choice.
It always bothered me early on in the 2004 primaries that so many candidates emerged....and it gave the impression that the party was in disarray. I hope that this time....we need not worry about...and emerge from the very start with John Edwards leading the way. All of the rehtoric and inpiring speeches from Dean wont mean anything, if they fail once again to realize.....who is clearly the best choice.
[quote=evanforjre]Anyone is an improvement on McAwful, but I have my reservations about Dean. I think the danger with him is that he will push the Democratic Party too far to the left when it actually needs to become more centrist to attract votes. And, how is Dean going to play in states like Tennessee, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico etc? Can he really motivate the Democratic base and independent voters in the South and MidWest?
The jury's still out on Howard, IMHO![/quote]
We will find out about how Dean does in TN in March. He will be at Vanderbilt along with Rev. Sharpton and yeeckckkk Ann Coulter. I hope to go and I will let you know the reaction.
I like Dean for several reasons:
1. He got the young people engaged and excited.
2. He is very skeptical of the media - ie he wouldn't repond to a reporter yesterday who asked a FOX news type of loaded question that started with "Some people say......"
3. He is not afraid to stand up for his Democratic beliefs instead of these `wishy-washy` Repulican lite stances we have taken.
4. Dean understands that it needs to all happen at the grassroots AND in all 50 states.
Democrats have drifted to the center trying to appease the middle, yet the Republicans have drifted further to the right, so then the Dems again move to the middle, which has now become the right. This has alienated the progressives and liberals and fueled rise of the 3rd party lefties. IMO Dean is going to stop that drift.
Oh yeah...Cokie Roberts doesn't like Dean and anything that gets that uptight woman's knickers in a twist, is good with me
The jury's still out on Howard, IMHO![/quote]
We will find out about how Dean does in TN in March. He will be at Vanderbilt along with Rev. Sharpton and yeeckckkk Ann Coulter. I hope to go and I will let you know the reaction.
I like Dean for several reasons:
1. He got the young people engaged and excited.
2. He is very skeptical of the media - ie he wouldn't repond to a reporter yesterday who asked a FOX news type of loaded question that started with "Some people say......"
3. He is not afraid to stand up for his Democratic beliefs instead of these `wishy-washy` Repulican lite stances we have taken.
4. Dean understands that it needs to all happen at the grassroots AND in all 50 states.
Democrats have drifted to the center trying to appease the middle, yet the Republicans have drifted further to the right, so then the Dems again move to the middle, which has now become the right. This has alienated the progressives and liberals and fueled rise of the 3rd party lefties. IMO Dean is going to stop that drift.
Oh yeah...Cokie Roberts doesn't like Dean and anything that gets that uptight woman's knickers in a twist, is good with me
[quote]Can Dean Give 'Em A Winner?
By E.J. Dionne Jr.
Sunday, February 13, 2005; Page B01
Howard Dean, are you absolutely sure you want to be the Democratic Party's national chairman?
In recent months, I've had conversations with just about every kind of Democrat, each as certain and as passionate as the next about what the party's top priorities should be. How can Dean, or anyone, square all these disparate imperatives, one with the other? Alternatively, can he choose some and reject others without a lot of Democrats screaming -- at him?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/`wp-dyn`/articles/`A18482-2005Feb12`.html[/quote]
By E.J. Dionne Jr.
Sunday, February 13, 2005; Page B01
Howard Dean, are you absolutely sure you want to be the Democratic Party's national chairman?
In recent months, I've had conversations with just about every kind of Democrat, each as certain and as passionate as the next about what the party's top priorities should be. How can Dean, or anyone, square all these disparate imperatives, one with the other? Alternatively, can he choose some and reject others without a lot of Democrats screaming -- at him?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/`wp-dyn`/articles/`A18482-2005Feb12`.html[/quote]
[quote=Carynel][quote=evanforjre]Anyone is an improvement on McAwful, but I have my reservations about Dean. I think the danger with him is that he will push the Democratic Party too far to the left when it actually needs to become more centrist to attract votes. And, how is Dean going to play in states like Tennessee, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico etc? Can he really motivate the Democratic base and independent voters in the South and MidWest?
The jury's still out on Howard, IMHO![/quote]
We will find out about how Dean does in TN in March. He will be at Vanderbilt along with Rev. Sharpton and yeeckckkk Ann Coulter. I hope to go and I will let you know the reaction.
I like Dean for several reasons:
1. He got the young people engaged and excited.
2. He is very skeptical of the media - ie he wouldn't repond to a reporter yesterday who asked a FOX news type of loaded question that started with "Some people say......"
3. He is not afraid to stand up for his Democratic beliefs instead of these `wishy-washy` Repulican lite stances we have taken.
4. Dean understands that it needs to all happen at the grassroots AND in all 50 states.
Democrats have drifted to the center trying to appease the middle, yet the Republicans have drifted further to the right, so then the Dems again move to the middle, which has now become the right. This has alienated the progressives and liberals and fueled rise of the 3rd party lefties. IMO Dean is going to stop that drift.
Oh yeah...Cokie Roberts doesn't like Dean and anything that gets that uptight woman's knickers in a twist, is good with me[/quote]
Carynel, do you have a link for the Vanderbilt visit? I'm about 2 1/2 hours away from Nashville.
The jury's still out on Howard, IMHO![/quote]
We will find out about how Dean does in TN in March. He will be at Vanderbilt along with Rev. Sharpton and yeeckckkk Ann Coulter. I hope to go and I will let you know the reaction.
I like Dean for several reasons:
1. He got the young people engaged and excited.
2. He is very skeptical of the media - ie he wouldn't repond to a reporter yesterday who asked a FOX news type of loaded question that started with "Some people say......"
3. He is not afraid to stand up for his Democratic beliefs instead of these `wishy-washy` Repulican lite stances we have taken.
4. Dean understands that it needs to all happen at the grassroots AND in all 50 states.
Democrats have drifted to the center trying to appease the middle, yet the Republicans have drifted further to the right, so then the Dems again move to the middle, which has now become the right. This has alienated the progressives and liberals and fueled rise of the 3rd party lefties. IMO Dean is going to stop that drift.
Oh yeah...Cokie Roberts doesn't like Dean and anything that gets that uptight woman's knickers in a twist, is good with me
[/quote]
Carynel, do you have a link for the Vanderbilt visit? I'm about 2 1/2 hours away from Nashville.
[quote]Dean to speak at Vanderbilt symposium
The man in line to be the Democratic Party's next leader will speak in Nashville next month.
Howard Dean is scheduled to speak during Vanderbilt University's Impact Symposium at 7 p.m. March 22. Jonathan Justl, a junior economics and history major working on the symposium, said the former presidential candidate and Vermont governor was already a good fit for the lecture series' 2005 theme, ''Visions of America,'' when students started planning last fall.
Dean's expected election this weekend as chairman of the Democratic National Committee makes him an even better speaker for the event, Justl said.
http://tinyurl.com/4j29b[/quote]
The man in line to be the Democratic Party's next leader will speak in Nashville next month.
Howard Dean is scheduled to speak during Vanderbilt University's Impact Symposium at 7 p.m. March 22. Jonathan Justl, a junior economics and history major working on the symposium, said the former presidential candidate and Vermont governor was already a good fit for the lecture series' 2005 theme, ''Visions of America,'' when students started planning last fall.
Dean's expected election this weekend as chairman of the Democratic National Committee makes him an even better speaker for the event, Justl said.
http://tinyurl.com/4j29b[/quote]
Thank you so much!
If you think about it, Dean and Edwards may have been the real winners of the primary race after all, in a way. They didn't get the nomination, but Dean became so popular that a large percentage of ordinary democrats lobbied for him to be party chair and as a result, he got the job. Edwards wasn't well known before he was the VP candidate. He was the VP candidate primarily because he became so popular during the primaries that a lot of people lobbied Kerry to choose him. I really think by the time Kerry made his decision, there was so much pressure for him to choose Edwards that he didn't have a choice. Now, after running as VP, Edwards is known all over the country and very popular and already considered one of the top contenders for 2008.
fear Dean. Paul Gigot on Faux News Sunday said this morning that Dean isn't quite as left as many Republicans think; that Dean is a pragmatist. The true test will be in the red states. One person said Dean was going to Mississippi on March 1st.
So this group didn't knock Dean down, Hume `not-withstanding`, but then he thought Jeff Gannon going into the White House Press room under a pen name was akin to Mark Twain and his real name. The rest of the panel jumped all over him.
So this group didn't knock Dean down, Hume `not-withstanding`, but then he thought Jeff Gannon going into the White House Press room under a pen name was akin to Mark Twain and his real name. The rest of the panel jumped all over him.
[quote=Carynel]I like Dean for several reasons:
1. He got the young people engaged and excited.
2. He is very skeptical of the media - ie he wouldn't repond to a reporter yesterday who asked a FOX news type of loaded question that started with "Some people say......"
3. He is not afraid to stand up for his Democratic beliefs instead of these `wishy-washy` Repulican lite stances we have taken.
4. Dean understands that it needs to all happen at the grassroots AND in all 50 states.
Oh yeah...Cokie Roberts doesn't like Dean and anything that gets that uptight woman's knickers in a twist, is good with me[/quote]
Carynel, I saw Dean's press conference yesterday, and his exact words to two reporters were, "I don't respond to blind quotes." "Next question, please."
Excellent response which does away with all the trash questioning that leads nowhere!!
And I saw Cokie this morning, too! I think her behavior was very atrocious. She seems to be wanting a gig on Fox. Just like ole George Will who does appear on the Conservative Talk Radio Circuit. They must have contracts with ABC that prevent them from appearing on other television stations - but not the radio.
They are so disingenuous. Continuing to rehash the issues of the November election - trashing the liberal label, etc., well, just let 'em rant and rave all they want.
The Democratic Party has serious work to do!!
1. He got the young people engaged and excited.
2. He is very skeptical of the media - ie he wouldn't repond to a reporter yesterday who asked a FOX news type of loaded question that started with "Some people say......"
3. He is not afraid to stand up for his Democratic beliefs instead of these `wishy-washy` Repulican lite stances we have taken.
4. Dean understands that it needs to all happen at the grassroots AND in all 50 states.
Oh yeah...Cokie Roberts doesn't like Dean and anything that gets that uptight woman's knickers in a twist, is good with me
[/quote]
Carynel, I saw Dean's press conference yesterday, and his exact words to two reporters were, "I don't respond to blind quotes." "Next question, please."
Excellent response which does away with all the trash questioning that leads nowhere!!
And I saw Cokie this morning, too! I think her behavior was very atrocious. She seems to be wanting a gig on Fox. Just like ole George Will who does appear on the Conservative Talk Radio Circuit. They must have contracts with ABC that prevent them from appearing on other television stations - but not the radio.
They are so disingenuous. Continuing to rehash the issues of the November election - trashing the liberal label, etc., well, just let 'em rant and rave all they want.
The Democratic Party has serious work to do!!
[quote=Melissa]
Carynel, do you have a link for the Vanderbilt visit? I'm about 2 1/2 hours away from Nashville.[/quote]
Maybe we could meet up! Private message me if you would like. I'm about 1/2 hour east of Vanderbilt off `I-40`. I am trying to get some others to go also.
Carynel, do you have a link for the Vanderbilt visit? I'm about 2 1/2 hours away from Nashville.[/quote]
Maybe we could meet up! Private message me if you would like. I'm about 1/2 hour east of Vanderbilt off `I-40`. I am trying to get some others to go also.
[quote=Benny]...but then he thought Jeff Gannon going into the White House Press room under a pen name was akin to Mark Twain and his real name. The rest of the panel jumped all over him. [/quote]
I'm glad to know they jumped on Hume for this. They must have been told by the White House to give it a try. :shock:
Lame. Very lame. :x
[/quote]
I'm glad to know they jumped on Hume for this. They must have been told by the White House to give it a try. :shock:
Lame. Very lame. :x
[quote=Carynel][quote=Melissa]
Carynel, do you have a link for the Vanderbilt visit? I'm about 2 1/2 hours away from Nashville.[/quote]
Maybe we could meet up! Private message me if you would like. I'm about 1/2 hour east of Vanderbilt off `I-40`. I am trying to get some others to go also.[/quote]
If I can work it out, I'd love to go. Let me see what I can do. I'd love to meet you!
Carynel, do you have a link for the Vanderbilt visit? I'm about 2 1/2 hours away from Nashville.[/quote]
Maybe we could meet up! Private message me if you would like. I'm about 1/2 hour east of Vanderbilt off `I-40`. I am trying to get some others to go also.[/quote]
If I can work it out, I'd love to go. Let me see what I can do. I'd love to meet you!
IMO, Dean has experience McAwful didn't. Dean was a candidate and had to deal with the media, you can't buy this kind of experience. He's knows what went wrong and why during his own run. I love to watch the right foam at the mouth like a rabid dog over Dean. This means they can't control him and they know it. He gave a good answer, the best - no answer and called them on it. IMO, this has been our missing link, media control. Foam away, kookie Cokie.
This means they can't control him and they know it. He gave a good answer, the best - no answer and called them on it. IMO, this has been our missing link, media control. Foam away, kookie Cokie.
This was posted on Kos - it's from a site in Va backing Tim Kaine for governor:
[quote]Howard Dean: Southern Comfort?
At first glance, yesterday's election of former Vermont Governor Howard Dean as chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) may appear to be `less-than`-good news for Tim Kaine and other `moderate-to`-conservative southern Democrats. After all, Dean has been portrayed by the Republican Party and by the `right-wing` media as as a `gay-marriage`-supporting, fiscally irresponsible, typical northeastern, `far-out` liberal. Dean's also been portrayed, frankly, as a screaming nutcase. But we here at RaisingKaine believe that these are all false stereotypes that couldn’t be further from the truth. We also believe that the Republicans are in for some seriously unpleasant surprises in coming months and years as their illusions and fantasies are shattered one by one.
[/quote]
http://citizenkaine.blogspot.com/
Here's another take on the Dean chairmanship from a conservative columnist via Kos:
[quote]Conservatives and Republicans have been licking their chops at the prospect of a Dean chairmanship, but I would urge a bit of caution here. Howard Dean has the potential to be the Democrats' version of Newt Gingrich, and if we overlook the potential impact he will have on the Democrats as a whole, we could see a Democrat Revolution in the near future, possibly as soon as 2006.[/quote]
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/13/12616/5799
[quote]Howard Dean: Southern Comfort?
At first glance, yesterday's election of former Vermont Governor Howard Dean as chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) may appear to be `less-than`-good news for Tim Kaine and other `moderate-to`-conservative southern Democrats. After all, Dean has been portrayed by the Republican Party and by the `right-wing` media as as a `gay-marriage`-supporting, fiscally irresponsible, typical northeastern, `far-out` liberal. Dean's also been portrayed, frankly, as a screaming nutcase. But we here at RaisingKaine believe that these are all false stereotypes that couldn’t be further from the truth. We also believe that the Republicans are in for some seriously unpleasant surprises in coming months and years as their illusions and fantasies are shattered one by one.
[/quote]
http://citizenkaine.blogspot.com/
Here's another take on the Dean chairmanship from a conservative columnist via Kos:
[quote]Conservatives and Republicans have been licking their chops at the prospect of a Dean chairmanship, but I would urge a bit of caution here. Howard Dean has the potential to be the Democrats' version of Newt Gingrich, and if we overlook the potential impact he will have on the Democrats as a whole, we could see a Democrat Revolution in the near future, possibly as soon as 2006.[/quote]
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/13/12616/5799
Thank you Democratic National Convention, for at long last showing some spine and strategic thinking skills.
[quote=Tank in Texas]Thank you Democratic National Convention, for at long last showing some spine and strategic thinking skills.[/quote]
Amen! Can I get a witness?!
Amen! Can I get a witness?!
[quote=sirius][quote=Tank in Texas]Thank you Democratic National Convention, for at long last showing some spine and strategic thinking skills.[/quote]
Amen! Can I get a witness?![/quote]
Loud ((ECHO)) here.
Amen! Can I get a witness?![/quote]
Loud ((ECHO)) here.
[quote=ncMindy][quote=sirius][quote=Tank in Texas]Thank you Democratic National Convention, for at long last showing some spine and strategic thinking skills.[/quote]
Amen! Can I get a witness?![/quote]
Loud ((ECHO)) here.[/quote]
And all the way from Alabama!
Amen! Can I get a witness?![/quote]
Loud ((ECHO)) here.[/quote]
And all the way from Alabama!
The Republicans are going to be surprised at how effective Dean is at reaching moderates.
[quote=Bootleg]The Republicans are going to be surprised at how effective Dean is at reaching moderates.[/quote]
I agree...I think Dean is, above all else, pragmatic....he has what I would refer to as good old Yankee common sense. I think thats something that might cross alot of `geo-political` lines.
I agree...I think Dean is, above all else, pragmatic....he has what I would refer to as good old Yankee common sense. I think thats something that might cross alot of `geo-political` lines.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.