Howard Dean: Democrats Shouldnt Just Oppose Everything Donald Trump Proposes

[think]

Howard Dean: Democrats Shouldn’t Just Oppose Everything Donald Trump Proposes

By Althia Raj - 11/17/2016 12:24 pm ET

The former DNC chair wants his job back. And he has a more nuanced plan to help Democrats regain power.

OTTAWA — Howard Dean, the former Democratic National Committee chair who wants his old job back, is advising Democrats not to take the path of complete opposition to Donald Trump once the new president takes office.

“Donald Trump has proposed some things that make sense,” Dean said, pointing to the president-elect’s massive infrastructure pledge. If Trump drops the corporate tax rate to 18 per cent and finances it by getting rid of corporate loopholes, should also support that, Dean added.

“I don’t think we should oppose any idea that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth just because it’s Donald Trump.”

The former Vermont governor’s comments echo what Democratic Party leadership in Congress has also said. But they may rankle some in the party’s base, who have encouraged Democrats not to normalize Trump by giving him legislative wins. Congressional Republicans recaptured power after the 2008 elections by opposing, in lockstep, President Barack Obama’s agenda, they noted....

Read more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/howard-dean-donald-trump_us_582dda53e4b030997bbdd637

[femmocrat]

1. Uh, yes we should.

Democrats need to remember what the party of "NO" did to Obama.

[pangaia]

2. I don't know the answer to this.

If 'we ' oppose everything, then we get blamed for opposing everything. ( Nobody, especially the meedeeyah) will remember what repubs have done.)
If we do NOT oppose everything, then the nazi gets credit for stuff.

[Ligyron]

3. and I thought Dean was the one to take over the DNC

pffffft, now IDK.

We should oppose everything imho. Stall, delay 'til 2018 since it's only fair.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

18. He's actually right...but it didn't get explained as well as it should be

Now IF Trump tries to do something that Democrats have wanted to do and have been blocked by Republicans then of course, go along with it because it's a win. But every last little asshole move the orange jackass makes they need to fight him tooth and nail at all costs.

[yallerdawg]

4. Wrong, Dean!

After eight years of example, that is what we should agree with the Republicans on.

Nothing for Corrupt Trump. Nothing!

Why didn't we pass tax reform? Why didn't we pass job creation and infrastructure? Why didn't we get healthcare reform instead of the Republican plan?

Because the Republicans remained the opposition party, and only broke on the edge of disaster.

If the American people believe the only time we get anything accomplished is under Republicans, that is a bad lesson.

It's payback time. We have no choice.

[MyOwnPeace]

11. I agree............

Remember how we were so "SURE" that everybody would remember the "Party of NO" - well, look where that got us!

"FECK-EM!"

They deserve what they got - and we should do EVERYTHING to give them NOTHING!!!

[geek tragedy]

5. we should pretend to keep on open mind but sabotage him.

Just like McConnell did--he pretended to be open to cooperation all the while committing sabotage.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Trump's infrastructure plan is just another grift

to give huge tax breaks to corporations who were doing the projects anyhow. Dean should know that before shooting off his mouth.

[Nevernose]

7. It's theoretically POSSIBLE he proposes something worth considering

But, to quote early 90s SNL, monkeys might also fly out of my butt.

If he really did propose raising the minimum wage or something else to that effect, we should go with it. It won't happen, obviously, but as Geek Tragedy said above: we should at least pretend to be open minded before shutting down his bullshit. Worked for McConnell so far...

[uponit7771]

17. Yeap, posted something similar... sounds like we should adopt their playbook... fuck em

[mtnsnake]

8. I don't want that piece of shit to succeed, PERIOD. His success would set this country back 90 years

[Wellstone ruled]

9. So Mr. Dean got his

Wall Street marching orders. Same sh*t,just a new day.

[Paladin]

10. Not what I want to hear, Dr. Dean. (nt)

[baldguy]

12. Makes me want Keith Ellison to lead the DNC all the more.

[RonniePudding]

13. Wasn't Howard Dean the guy in charge when we retook the congress and got Obama elected?

Now of course, the response to that would be "anyone could have done that given W's unpopularity!".

I'm actually not too sure about it. I know one person who would have completely fucked up 2006-08 beyond recognition -- Debbie Wasserman Shultz.

I'd feel a whole lot better about Ellison if it were his full time gig. Can anyone look at the current state of the DNC, and with a straight face, proclaim that is a part time job?

[treestar]

14. What? That's exactly what they did to Obama!

Yes we should! There is no way that Orange Toxin will have any good ideas.

[Dawson Leery]

15. Why not. The Rethugs won with obstruction.

Also, it is time to raise interest rates.

[uponit7771]

16. Reps did and look how it worked out for them... don't understand this meme, we're not going to win

... being GOP lite at all

[quaker bill]

19. "just oppose" will not be enough

Now I agree with Dr. Dean that there might be an occasion where something useful might be proposed, and if so then perhaps our votes can create some discord on the right while doing something beneficial. These opportunities, if they ever arise, will need to be carefully considered.

However, largely we need to just say no, and then organize.

[NewJeffCT]

20. Infrastructure investment is a great idea that Republicans have historically opposed

but, Trump's proposal is to give huge tax breaks to corporations for them to build new infrastructure - so, we would end up with privatized roads, bridges, water, etc. So, basically screwing the poor and middle class to enrich the big corporations and their executives.

[think]

21. Bernie Sanders has already called Trump's infrastructure plan a scam. The goal is to get the

focus on needed infrastructure spending put pressure on Trump to support TRUE infrastructure policy.

TO just be obstructionist on this important Democratic issue would make the Democrats look like the problem.

Sanders is prepared for this fight and will point to the many quality infrastructure bills he and other Democrats have worked on to show what really needs to be done.

[VulgarPoet]

22. ...So what, we just roll over and show that sack of shit our stomachs?

Pathetic.

[Cosmocat]

23. Dean is right in that the focus can't be Trump

I know people are going to have hard time getting this, but Trump said it a year ago - he could walk into the middle of the street in NYC and shoot someone and not a single one of his supporters would question it.

WE know how abhorrent he is, but guess what, so do the 60 million people who voted for him.

Trump is going nowhere, there is nothing we can do about him now. And, it is wasting time screaming about him for the most part.

There needs to be a complete retrenchment on a much broader level.

I was going by the polls that Hillary was going to win, but had countless posts pushing back on all this "the republicans are on the last breathe" thinking. Nothing was further from the truth the day before the election, and today we sit in a country where they have full control with massive margins at every level (except the senate, which most likely is going to increase in two years).

So, we can scream about Trump and waste our "bullets" or we can do what the Rs did three plus decades ago - roll up their sleeves to fight EVERY fight at every level like our lives depend on it.

We simply do not possess the singular focus, never ending intensity and willingness to fight dirty and like our lives depend on it like Rs do.