Democrats plot strategy to rebuild battered party (Miami Herald)

[sherilocks]

Posted on Sat, Dec. 25, 2004


FLORIDA POLITICS



Florida Democrats met this week to devise a strategy to return to relevance, as several of their leading figures consider gubernatorial runs. One has a familiar name: Lawton Chiles III.

BY LESLEY CLARK AND MARY ELLEN KLAS

[e-mail]

Exiled from all but one statewide office in Florida and facing the deepest legislative deficit in decades, elected Democrats huddled privately this week to plot strategy for regaining clout in 2006.

The closed-door meeting, held at U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd's North Florida farm, was billed as the first of what is likely to be a series of brainstorming sessions as the one-time majority party tries to reclaim some relevance, participants said.

Called by Boyd and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, the only remaining statewide elected Democrat, the meeting brought together office holders and several prospects for races in 2006 -- all of whom met amid what one participant called an unprecedented level of intensity, prompted by a dismal showing in the November election.

''Every one of us is trying to assess what we do in the future, how we can build the party and reach out to people and really work together more closely,'' said Betty Castor, the former education commissioner whose narrow loss to Republican Mel Martinez in the U.S. Senate race gave Democrats a sliver of hope. ``This election made us realize we need to start a dialogue to better build the party.''

<snip>

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/10494921.htm?1c

Taken from the Florida Forum and thanks to Ryban for posting

[Mika]

1. Bill Nelson campaigned for Mel Martinez.

As soon as the repugs forged Mel into position, the first thing they promised was to go after Bill Nelson's seat.

Ahhh, Floriduh.. you can smell the freedom from here.

[mazzarro]

3. If Bill Nelson campaigned for Martinez and now wants to find ways

to save his hide, I sincerely will not shed a drop of tear if he (Nelson) loses his re-election. I am no longer countenancing any excuses for all the DINOs when even McCain could not be bulged to stay off the campaign trail on behalf of the chimp. Someone is going to come up with some reasons to excuse what Nelson did in campaigning for Martinez - Hell No Dice Here! If the reThugs go after him, I do hope they knock him off just like they did Tom "the appeaser" Daschle. It is high time the rebuilding of the democratic party started with the wholesale expulsion of the DINOs/DLC'ers.

[w4rma]

4. That right there might have caused Kerry to lose Florida.

Bill Nelson endorsing a Repuke who is running an extremely negative campaign against Dems.

[MajorFlaw]

12. Then again, it might have just been the scrub lists.

n/t

[slay]

2. ONLY way to "devise a strategy to return to relevance"-End Election Fraud!

WTF is going on with the Dems? Do they really believe this election was fair? Obviously their message already IS working, otherwise the rethugs wouldn't have HAD TO HAVE STOLEN THE ELECTION. Argh! Seems the Dems are determined to shoot themselves in the foot over this whole thing no matter what.

[Kolesar]

6. do you have an automated program that generates these posts?

I recall having seen the "it does not matter, this election was stolen" post before.

[shanti]

7. is he wrong?

???? the election was stolen.

[slay]

8. What are you talking about?

What I'm saying is - why should the Dems change? The election WAS stolen. So basically they would be changing due to the results of a rigged election. If they are changing because of the outcome of this election - that's is such a mistake in so many ways I don't even know where to begin. Oh, and if you were implying that I'm some kind of freeper or troll, way to go with the holiday spirit buddy.

[Kolesar]

10. your post has nothing to do with the article...eom

[Pithy Cherub]

5. The Florida Dems are on the endangered species list.

Until electronic voting is transparent a "fair outcome" is not possible. Second a core principle would be exceedingly helpful: Stand for something or fall for anything. Buddying up to the politician du jour has not done the job - nor ever will...

[msongs]

9. jeb bush now has illegal power of attorney to

cast votes on behalf of all florida dems, but he will be kind enuff to make the outcome look close, so as to minimize demands from the dems cowardly leadership to investigate the election outcome.

Msongs
Riverside Ca

[dbt]

11. Until Democrats are willing to stand against vote fraud,

and at least look into the way that it has been used against them since 2000, "relevance" is a moot point.

If one assumes that this past election was legitimate, any conclusion that follows is flawed.

The Pugs are always trying to turn back the clock. Let the Democrats challenge them to turn it back to the days of paper ballots.

:grr:
dbt

[saracat]

13. I had NO Idea Nelson canpaigned or endorsed Martinez! Is this true?

How did I miss this. If true , he deserves to go down.

[sherilocks]

14. No, Bill Nelson did not endorse Martinez for the Senate