Here are the highlights:
I always, always laugh when I hear one of these insiders talk about the "disaster" that a Dean chairmanship would wreak on the party.
I mean, disaster compared to what? Being shut out from all levers of government? From the White House, Supreme Court, House, Senate, majority of governorships and majority of state legislatures?
How about the disaster of three straight losing election cycles? That's not a freakin' disaster?
Dean means reform. Simon Rosenberg means reform. There are probably other dark horse candidates out there who would mean reform.
And that's what we need. Reform, not status quo. The status quo is untenable. I'm tired of losing, and that's the only thing the current gang has delivered.
[...]
So don't be fooled by this "centrist" versus "liberal" scare tactics you'll hear from Lieberman and other party "leaders". It's scare tactics. The real battle is not ideological. It's between those who would rather keep the current system intact, regardless of its flaws, and those who want to scrap the darn thing and rebuild a stronger, more vibrant party.
I've been meaning to write more about my support for Dean as DNC chair. Kos just summed it up perfectly and I don't have mudh to add right now.
Plenty of people were on board with the Dean gets to replace McAuliffe as DNC Chair plan assuming Kerry would win. They were happy to credit Dean for the spine injection he gave the Party. Since Kerry lost, the firing squad is now looking to blame the left-wing of the Party and the stop-Dean movement has begun. Or the "Anybody But Dean" movement. And we all see how well those turn out...
4 comments:
As a Republican, I urge you and your party to make Dean party chair. Please- pretty please with a cherry on top!
It seems to me (and this is just my opinion, so feel free to call me an idiot) that the problem the Democratic party has at the moment is that it's been hijacked by the Michael Moore/George Soros loony left types. Similarly, the loony Christian right has hijacked the Republican Party. The problem you have is that your loons actually repel voters, where as ours tend to keep to themselves (for the most part).
So how does electing Howard Dean, a man who whole-heartedly embraces the loony left, solve your party’s problems? His image (whether deserved or not) will do nothing but confirm to moderate America that the Democratic Party is firmly in the hands of the loony left.
That’s all without mentioning that you would be moving the party further to the left (at least in appearance). I'm sorry Mr. Furious, but America is a conservative nation, and a party that embraces such policies as national healthcare and wealth redistribution is doomed to the fringes. Your votes are in the center, my friend.
Richard, Crank, etc.,
I agree there are votes in the center. And they are the Democrats for the taking. What I don't agree with is that the Democratic Party needs to continue being dragged to the right to keep up with the Republican Party. You acknowledge your Party has been hijacked by the religious right? You're right. And the republican Party bears little resemblance to the Party that attracted "Reagan Democrats". You're not even "conservative" anymore. Spending is out of control, personal liberties are at risk. Policy is dictated based on corporate welfare and religion. The military / security advantage you still hold will erode with their continued misuse. A radical ideology is in control. Tax cuts for wealthy and continual power consolidation is the only priority.
The Democrats need to come up with a simple, concise message to counter that, and a candidate to deliver it clearly. John Kerry was not that guy. He might have been the best guy available, so this isn't a second-guess, but clearly he didn't get the job done.
Dean's false portrayal as the lunatic left is just that. He is a centrist in nearly all aspects. Far less liberal than Kerry. Besides, I'm not saying (in this post) that he should be our nominee... he should be our Ed Gilespie (but honest).
A guy who can speak clearly and on message and isn't afraid to attack, and tell the plain truth. He is the closest thing we have to a McCain. He represents honesty, fiscal conservatism, social acceptance if not liberalism. Principled (to a fault?) he will not apologize or be afraid to define the party and stand up for it, unlike the water-testers like Kerry, and the panderers like Lieberman and Daschle.
Dean is connected to an active, young movement, that has shown the way to raise money apart from unions and corporations.
Dean has also proven to be correct on most of his "controversial" stances and statements.
I'm done with pretending to be republican-lite. time and again, it has been shown that voters will just vote for the rea thing. No more.
Can you ever leave the talking points at home and talk about the real world? Just once?
Real world? I'm talking about MY real world. Maybe not yours...
I've always been a Democrat, but Dean was the first politician that ever got me engaged in the process. Paul Wellstone is the first guy I ever gave money to, but Dean was the first guy who got me giving money repeatedly and up and down tickets all around the country. Going to meetings and sitting at tables. Wellstone is probably my political hero/ideal. Dean is not Wellstone. He is far more centrist, but has much of the same appeal. And he brought it on a national level.
These aren't talking points, they are real feelings and beliefs from me. Howard Dean spoke to me and his eventual followers like no other politicians had.
He wasn't only the first of the candidates to really take on the President, he, all along, hasn't been afraid to take on the Democratic establishment. His bluntness might rub some the wrong way. But he matched up pretty well with me on the issues, and didn't pander around depending on where he was speaking or where he was in the polls.
My allegiance to him and my support for him as DNC chair, might prove to be a fatal mistake...who knows? But I know that more of the same from the Party leadership is a losing proposition. It needs reform, and he's just one of the guys I think can do it.
He's got 600,000 people still actively supporting him, and he built a grassroots fundraising organization that neither Party has seen before. Not only does this carry some momentum and support into the Party machine, but they run the risk of turning these folks (mostly younger) away from the Party and the process if they choose another lame-ass Democrat insider.
Dean gave the Party a jolt this last cycle, no one else did. He deserves a shot.
You might think I'm a fool, but I'm being honest.
Post a Comment