[quote]


Now He Has the Power

By John Nichols, The Nation. Posted February 21, 2005.

Unlike past DNC chairs, Howard Dean won't have to scream for attention. He is in a position to make his party more newsworthy and potentially more dangerous than it has been in decades.

With the selection of Howard Dean as its chairman, the `213-year`-old Democratic Party has become something it has not been for a long time: exciting. A measure of that came three days before the 447 members of the Democratic National Committee chose him, at a `pre-victory` party Dean held in a microbrewery just blocks from DNC headquarters. Hundreds of his mostly young, mostly liberal supporters packed the place to hear Dean declare the Democrats to be the "party of the future." They also got a signal that he remained "their man," not the neutered version of himself that party insiders were still hoping he might become in his new role. When a backer bellowed the updated Harry Truman slogan that became a mantra for Dean's presidential campaign – "Give 'em hell, Howard!" – a wicked grin rippled across Dean's face. "I'm trying to be restrained in my new role," he chirped. "I may be looking for a `three-piece` suit." Then he burst into laughter and exclaimed, "Fat chance!"

The crowd cheered. Reporters flipped open notebooks. A faint shudder was heard from the offices of Congressional Democratic leaders. And Republicans, recalling the Iowa caucus incident that so damaged Dean's presidential prospects, repeated their tired take on the Vermonter's political resurrection: "It's a scream."

But unlike past DNC chairs, Dean won't have to scream for attention. Taking over as chairman of a party that is locked out of the White House and unable to muster anything more than a "minority leader" to flex its legislative muscle, Dean has positioned himself as the most `camera-ready` Democrat in the country. As such, he is in a position to make his party – as opposed to an individual candidate or faction – more newsworthy and potentially more dangerous than it has been in decades. What remains to be seen, however, is whether Dean's tenure will prove merely a wild ride or a ride into the flourishing future the new chair promises: with huge gains in the 2006 elections and a Democratic President marching down Pennsylvania Avenue on Jan. 20, 2009.

view complete article at:
http://www.alternet.org/story/21304/

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I'm soooo excited!

Me too! Here is the absolute crux of the debate on Dean:

[quote]The Washington axis tends to cast the question in terms of right versus left, but the better way of looking at it is outside versus inside," former Labor Secretary Robert Reich told a reporter. "The Republicans have somehow managed to root themselves outside of Washington, and it's worked to their advantage. But the Democrats are rooted now essentially inside the Senate. Ugh. The argument for Dean is that he'll help change that.[/quote]

It was never a "right/left" argument, but one of "insider/outsider". Why would this not be what we want when we know that this is partly what made the RNC so successful? If we are going to be a party of the people, then we need someone who will actually work for all of us...not just those currently holding office in DC.

I like the thought that we are now "dangerous"!

I like Gov. Dean's ideas and I've been in touch with him since his election.

I'm so excited andI just can't hide it ...

At least being dangerous gets attention from the media. I'm very happy myself - can't wait for the shake up.

[quote=ncMindy]At least being dangerous gets attention from the media. I'm very happy myself - can't wait for the shake up. [/quote]

Shaken, not stirred!