Dean steps up to rebuild Democrats

[cal04]

Howard Dean, who crashed out of last year's race for the White House with his now infamous "I have a scream" speech, was poised yesterday for a political comeback as chairman of the Democratic national committee. Just months after being reduced to a running joke on cable television and a codicil to the Democrats' defeat, Mr Dean has emerged as the man charged with ensuring the party's future after the last of his six rivals bowed out of the leadership race on Monday.

Balloting of the DNC's 447 members for a successor to the current party chairman, Terry McAuliffe, takes place on Saturday. Mr Dean blazed across the political map in 2003 before his spectacular flameout in the first Democratic primary, and his rise to the chair of the DNC represents a victory not only for his personal powers of reinvention, but for the Democratic grassroots over the party establishment.

"Many of the DNC members feel that once the election of the chair is concluded they are cut out of process. Their support of Dean is a signal to the Washington DNC apparatus that they want a little bit more democracy and a little bit more consultation," Harold Ickes, a key aide to Senator Hillary Clinton and a Dean supporter, told the Guardian.

Mr Dean's imminent victory was also seen as a victory for the more liberal wing of the Democratic party. "It's a signal that the progressive agenda of the Democratic party will be at the forefront, which suggests there is going to be a battle over social security and other aspects of the conservative agenda," said Robert Shapiro, a politics professor at Columbia University. The former governor of Vermont owes his comeback to his prowess as a fundraiser, and to his ability to mobilise the Democratic base. However, the very passion that swayed his supporters nearly blocked his rise to the DNC chairmanship.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1408792,00.html

[hedda_foil]

1. I don't think Harold Ickes quite gets it.

Their support of Dean is a signal to the Washington DNC apparatus that they want a little bit more democracy and a little bit more consultation," Harold Ickes, a key aide to Senator Hillary Clinton and a Dean supporter, told the Guardian.

No, Harold, it's a signal that we want Howard to sweep out the whole useless Washington DNC apparatus and replace it with a lot of Democracy and a lot of consultation.

[bemildred]

2. Indeed. Time to haul out the trash.

And needless to say, the RNC needs to be disposed of next.

[pompano dem]

3. If Dean is the Future of the Democratic Party - Get used to Republicans

I think Dean is a very good man; I think he would make a fine president, however he cannot win. He is a far-left NE liberal and cannot win in states like Ohio, Florida, Minnesota or Pennsylvania. He surely will not and cannot win in any Southern State. Look at the only successful Democratic candidate since Carter(a Southern Centrist at the time, Clinton and you will notice he is from the south and a Centrist. I believe Clinton won a few Southern States. Nixon identified the importance of the South, realized if you win the South you have good shot at winning. Being from the South my whole life and a Republican turned Democrat I can assure you the people who decide the presidency(that 3-6% of undecideds) do not like extreme of anything, especially NE liberals.

Just my .02

[realFedUp]

4. Dean is a Dr., an ex-governor, fiscal conservative, social liberal

He balanced budgets, put into place health care
coverage for all kids under 18, was a protector
of the environment and lives a upper middle class life
with his wife and two kids. He's about as middle
of the road as you'll find right now in any
party.

If you are going to comment on why the Doc
doesn't appeal to voters in all parts of this
country, at least start with some facts.

And that rally cry? Dean's the new DNC Chair
YYYEEEEEEEEAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!

Oh, and welcome to DU.

[pompano dem]

6. You missed my point

Those facts are all well and good but the fact he is from the NE will overshadow all of those great points you made in the eyes of the people I refer to. The opposition has been 100% successful at taking people from the NE and painting them with a giant liberal label that says these people support socialism(ie, Mondale, Dukakis and Kerry). The facts are irrelevant.

I don't remember the name of the group but 5 or 6 Southern Democrats got tired in the late 80s of the party being hijacked by the likes of Mondale and Dukakis and created a strategy to win the Presidency. Some of those men were Clinton, Gore and Bob Graham. I don't recall who the others were. But the intent was to bring the party back to the center. They did and they won. The same must be done again and Dean does not fit that strategy. Edwards does and I believe can win the Presidency.

[placton]

7. Sorry, friend, Dean will do fine

Let's face it, only us policy wonks even KNOW who the party chairs are. Do you really think Joe Six Pack tunes into talking head shows about the progeny of the 2 party chairs? Hell, no, he's checking out the Nascar results.

Haley Barbour was Repuke chair- from Mississippi, a real asshole. It made no difference to the voters - and neither will Dean.

Where Dean (hopefully) WILL make a difference is:
-representing us in public
-getting rid of the deadwood
-strengthening grassroots

things he is good at.

He can talk to the talking heads about his pro-gun fiscal conservative brand of progressive politics, and has a long record of same. And he's a medico who, unlike Dr. Mengele-Frist, eschewed killing cats!

Give em hell, Dr. Dean.

[realFedUp]

9. John Kennedy seemed to touch the hearts of southerners also

I think Howard and Dems will lay out the
argument that everyone in this country
shares so many hopes, problems in common
and Dems can find solutions that address
all of them better than Republicans have.

[SharonAnn]

12. Just remember, the NE and California are supporting the country

The Red states depend on the taxes paid by the NE and the West coast.

[bemildred]

5. You assume business as usual.

I think you are wrong about that.
I think you are really wrong if you think Dean cannot win in the South.
In any case it's not like the status quo is so great.
Time will tell.

[Stuckinthebush]

8. The funny thing is...

If Kerry had taken Dean's stance on the Iraq war, and come out with all guns blazing on that, then we would be talking about President Kerry. The GOP lite trick doesn't work. Dean has proven that there are millions out there who want a feisty, kick ass, make no apologies Democrat. The NE liberal line only works if the NE liberal apologizes for who she or he is. Dean says, "Screw that...we are liberals for XYZ reasons, and we are damn proud of it."

THAT is what we need to revive the Democratic Party.

[Eloriel]

10. I think it's both, hedda!

Good to see you, btw. You were on my mind SO strongly on Sunday afternoon esp. and I almost called. Give me a call when you have a few minutes.

[candy331]

11. "before he takes positions he needs to consult" really, oh my.

"Dean's proclivity is to take positions very quickly on issues," said Mr Ickes. "He is no longer a governor, no longer a presidential candidate. He is the steward of the party in a very broad sense, and before he takes position he needs to consult."

[SharonAnn]

13. To Mr Ickes, "Bite me!"