Paul Begala being considered for DNC Chair!

[saracat]

Some of my DNC reps told me that Paul Begala the hot ticket for DNC Chair. This isn't a joke. I asked. Any one else heard this ?

[coloradodem2005]

1. He had better be better than McCaulliffe.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. Joe Conason said something about it on Friday...

...on the Al Franken Show (he was subbing for Al).

That's all I've heard.

[wyldwolf]

3. yeah, friend in DC told me early last week...

...said the reasoning is:

Strategist
Communicator

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Could it also be

that he isn't Howard Dean? After all, those two adjectives also describe the good doctor from Vermont.

[wyldwolf]

7. maybe, maybe not. No one deserves a coronation

...you can hardly blame an "employer" (DNC) for considering everyone qualified before a decision is set.

Besides, I didn't think Dean had officially entered the fray.

[Capn Sunshine]

12. slight correction

Failed strategist
Sniveling sellout communicator

and you know very well he spen the past wekend in Orlando, such disinformation.

[wyldwolf]

13. correction

strategist
communicator

[Telly Savalas]

59. I thought Clinton won.

[Still_Loves_John]

87. Excuse me?

"Failed strategist"

Now, I'm not the biggest Begala or Clinton fan, I mean I don't not like them but I don't love them, but I can't help but see that statment as a little silly. I mean, there's nothing wrong with supporting Dean as chair, but I think it's silly to say that a record of success is important in a DNC chair, and that we should therfore pass over Begala, who was behind two successful runs for the presidency, and choose Dean, who was behind none.

Now I want to say again that I really have no problem with Dean as DNC chair, but his record of success outside of Vermont probably isn't the most valid reason to support him.

[Miami Liberal]

4. I'm rooting for Dean

but if he doesn't get it maybe Paul won't be so bad.

[saracat]

9. Both Dean and Paul are DLC and want to soften our position on abortion.

[wyldwolf]

11. why do you have a Kerry avatar? He's DLC

[saracat]

18. Because I supported Kerry.

I also thought he was a bit rebellious against the DLC. And He has been. He didn't vote for the omnibus bill and he gave the money to Grigoire. Both actions displeased the DLC. He has also signed on to the lawsuits and that doesn't wash with them. Go figure.

[wyldwolf]

35. ...ok... but...

..you slam Dean for being DLC (which he isn't.)

Dontcha think he was a bit rebellious against the DLC?

And Kerry had a few abortion stance-softening words to say himself.. didn't he?

[saracat]

50. Absolutely. And I am furious with him about that as well.

Kerry shocked the Pro-choice Community with the remarks that are covered in the new Newsweek article.

[wyldwolf]

51. so...

...my question again...

If the DLC is poison to you.... and Dean is, too (because you think he is DLC) and they've BOTH had abortion-softening stances... why the anger at Dean and Begala and not Kerry?

Would you support Kerry as DNC chair?

disclaimer: Big Kerry supporter, too.

[saracat]

55. I am angry with Kerry too . I am not supporting anyone at the moment.

I was supporting Dean. I even lobbied for him with the DNC Reps. Said they wouldn't get my vote next time if they didn't vote for him. Now I need to chill out and reconsider what my stance regarding these guys.

[Capn Sunshine]

14. Dean is NOT DLC

and he does NOT want to soften any position on abortion.
wake th F up and stop reading Fox news crib notes

[saracat]

15. Don't watch Fox. Watched Dean.

And he is a current DLC member as is Kerry.

[wyldwolf]

17. no, Dean isn't a curent DLC member, but he was...

...and his policies as governor of VT were DLC-like.

[Cheswick2.0]

77. no his policies were not DLC like

the DLC would never approve of most of what he did.

[Pastiche423]

19. DEAN IS NOT A CURRENT DLC MEMBER!

[saracat]

24. Anybody can be a member of the DLC. It costs$50 .I have it on good

authority, Dean paid his fifty bucks. Once joined before I knew what it was.I tore up my card in 2000. I thought it was something you did to support the party and didn't reseach it. Unless you have the current roster of hundrds of people you can't know if Dean paid his fifty bucks!

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saracat]

32. Too angry to type. I corrected it

[madfloridian]

27. Wow! The roster is at the DLC site.

You can only be a member if you are a current office holder. You need to get your facts straight before posting.

Sudden change to DNC...???

[saracat]

33. Not true.

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Membership fees or gifts to the Democratic Leadership Council are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. They are also not subject to federal or state election law limits. The DLC is a non-profit organization tax exempt under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Reven

[wyldwolf]

40. actually, you can only be a part of the leadership team if elected..

...you can be a DLC member regardless.

[madfloridian]

43. Like the DNC. Yes, that part is right. Not my point.

Saracat and you are just going after issues and Dean here today in a totally irrational way.

Dean was a centrist type of governor, but his stances on certain of these issues have not changed. I was DNC once, now I am only a registered Dem who supports DFA. See how confusing it is?

When you two just keep on like this it makes the board look silly and it hurts the party.

Shame on you.

[wyldwolf]

45. shame on me? Didn't you say ...

You can only be a member if you are a current office holder. ?

Yes, I believe you did.

Yet you can be a member just by joining.

So... what was you point?

[Lostnote03]

79. Edwards should be named temp. Chair....

[wyldwolf]

38. well, that is true

[Cheswick2.0]

73. I think the fact that he and the DLC leadership fought

publically makes your theory rather ridiculous.
Kerry is DLC and catered to their positions during the last several years to get their support.

[madfloridian]

29. saracat, Cap'n IS a member and he knows what he is talking about.

You are spreading all kinds of things here, and you need to be careful.

[Cheswick2.0]

72. prove it

or stop the nonsense.

[madfloridian]

23. That is a lie. Dean is not softening position....others are. Beware,

If it makes you feel better, go ahead. I have two posts going today on this subject, and if you can't see the difference then our party is in deep trouble.

[wyldwolf]

41. there really is no difference in Dean's words and the Globe article

[saracat]

28. Not a lie. Reaching out to pro life is softening.

Dean said we should embrace the pro lifers. Period. So did Kerry . I am mad at the madfloridian. This is one issue I cannot let them tamper with. And like hundreds of other Dems ,Dean paid his fifty bucks and is in the DLC. It doesn't mean anything. He probably has it on automatic payment. People think it means something it doesn't. I never thought of JK or Dean as proponents of centrism, but I may be mistaken. I hope to god I am wrong. I was hoping for Dean to be Chair but now I have no one I like. And for the record ,I can't stand the DNC. But only the inner circlwe have any power!

[madfloridian]

31. My God, what is going on here?

Of course we need to embrace pro-lifers....they have no other party. You are really getting things confused today.

[saracat]

34. Pro lifers? I am Pro- choice.

Dems are supposed to be pro-choice. Ant abortion protesters call themselvers Pro life. It is misnamed, I agree but that is the name of their movement.

[madfloridian]

37. I think you are confused on the issues and the candidates.

I think you need to read up before posting things that are simply not true. It is harmful to the party, and it is harmful to new people coming here to read this stuff.

[wyldwolf]

47. what wasn't true in his last post?

...by my estimation, the only thing he's posted that doesn't ring true is that Dean is a DLC member.

[Cheswick2.0]

74. again bullshit

Dean said the party should not change it's policies regarding abortion.

[IndianaGreen]

94. So, who among the DLC will be the first to kiss Randall Terry's ass?

Let's welcome the Xtian Taliban into our homes! Let's embrace Operation Rescue! Let's all become another branch of the GOP!

While we are having this Jesusland lovefest, let us also fire all gay teachers!

:puke:

[0007]

65. What are you talking about? Dean doesn't want to soften our position

on abortions.

[greenohio]

99. Thats right. We should just embrace pro-lifers.

Two different things. I think.

[Cheswick2.0]

70. bullshit

[latteromden]

5. Yep, it was posted here a little bit ago. But this is good confirmation.

I honestly don't know what I'll do with the party if they elect Begala to the position. No more Clinton advisors, dammit! They haven't helped us in the LAST three elections, what makes any of them, including Begala, qualified to LEAD the party?!

[baby_bear]

6. Better than Tim Roemer

Mister Anti-Choice (Roemer) is the name I keep hearing these days, certainly not Howard Dean's. Begala would be much better.

[Capn Sunshine]

20. actually about the same

Begala is among those calling for distance from Michael Moore among other things. Can abortion be far behind?

[Hippo_Tron]

67. Begala was at least against the war

And I don't remember anything about distancing from Michael Moore?

[IndianaGreen]

88. Begala supported Zell Miller in his efforts to defeat Cynthia McKinney

Begala is as much of a puke as Donna Brazile, and equally unacceptable.

[Hippo_Tron]

89. You have a link to that?

I do have a FAINT memory of him denouncing Cynthia McKinney, but not quite sure.

[IndianaGreen]

91. It is in the DU archives and...

I am surprised you only have a "faint memory" of what was one of the most contentious debates in DU back in 2002. The conservative DUers, who see themselves as "moderates," were quite outspoken about their admiration for Zell Miller, and his protege (and AIPAC-backed) Denise Majette, and very irate about Cynthia McKinney's claims that Bush had been warned of an Al-Qaeda attack on the US prior to 9/11.

As the 9/11 Commission hearings clearly demonstrated, McKinney was right about Bush, Zell Miller and his gang of DU apologists were dead wrong. Bush was briefed on a potential Al-Qaeda attack on US, that included suicide attacks, prior 9/11.

[Hippo_Tron]

98. I wasn't a DU member in 2002

I was actually a pro-war centrist until I came here in the summer of 2003. I credit this place for enlightening me.

Don't get me wrong, I like Cynthia McKinney, especially for speaking her mind on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I just don't remember Begala being a major figure in this issue, only a faint memory of him saying that he did not support Cynthia McKinney.

[IndianaGreen]

108. I saw Begala attack McKinney on Crossfire as a lunatic

for saying that Bush knew about OBL's plans to attack America before 9/11. Begala was a puke mouthpiece for Rove that day!

[0007]

93. Then NO to Begala. I absolutely don't want a mild talking

bull shitting kind of guy.

[TrustingDog]

8. I would ask Jon Stewart what he thinks about that...

and see what his suggestions are.
Begala likes to huff and puff on the edges but is no real representative of what I think you guys want... someone with stones.

[PopSixSquish]

10. Begala Has Really Disappointed Me in the Past Few Years

as the host of Crossfire. Perhaps being freed from the Certainly Not News network would help him remember who he is.

[goclark]

16. Yep, a wimp

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tinoire]

22. Begala??! That smirking little centrist wimp?

The DNC has surely lost it.

His political beliefs totally aside, that joker is too weasely to do the job right.

What they need for this position is a straight talker, not another mealy-mouth. Dean would be great. Or even Wesley Clark with his presence and presence of mind.

[DaveinMD]

25. Begala would be great

he was a major part of the last winning Democratic campaign.

[Cheswick2.0]

75. he is a spineless weasel and a hawk

no thank you very much.

Clinton won because he is a very charming personable man. Besides this is not 1992. Lots of things have changed since then.

[DaveinMD]

81. and things will change in the future

Begala understands framing. He understands how to win campaigns. Policy is meaningless. He's a consultant, not a politician.

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. Please say it isn't true!

We need a REAL Democrat as the DNC Chair. Begala is not that person.

[madfloridian]

36. What the heck is going on in this thread?

It is boggling my mind. If you have questions about the DLC talk to Cap'n Sunshine, he is well-informed and open-minded.

This is a thread with some very odd positioning going on and some lies mixed in.....yes, lies.

[wyldwolf]

42. yep! There ARE a few lies in this thread...

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Radical Activist]

56. I'm sure you'll start three new Dean threads to

disprove anything you disagree with in this thread, as usual.

Some of us don't think it's ok for Dean to be as moderate/conservative as the DLC just because he badmouths the DLC.

[Cheswick2.0]

76. some of us understand the difference between being moderate on balanced

budgets and being a corporatist. Besides Dean is more liberal than Begala. He's more liberal then DK too. Some of us didn't support DK because of rightwing positions he held.

[janx]

57. Disruptors, sock puppets, bored people who like to argue

on internet boards, etc....

[Walt Starr]

39. Unacceptable n/t

[PurityOfEssence]

46. George Bush is a nice guy, Hitler and McVeigh were atheists

This is what he regularly says, even though the first is mere boot-licking and the latter two points are completely false.

Begala's an enabler. There's too much macho Texan crap in his blood to be of any use to anyone.

Hitler and McVeigh were Catholics, just like he is, but he will never address this: he's a god and country Texan, and that's that.

His most despicable moment was passing out Kentucky Fried Chicken to the crowd and munching on a piece himself while talking to a PETA spokesperson. This shows hatred and dismissal of differing viewpoints, and it's an ugliness that can't be overstated. It was a vicious and callous attack on someone, using ridicule and the childish pull of the crowd to humiliate someone. Why would we want an asshole like this to represent "the people"? That's an example of some of the deepest and ugliest crowdmeistering; I'm sure Karl Rove snickers as he hears it.

Begala needs to prove his masculinity by showing pictures of himself and his brother sportkilling a deer, and he is the epitome of the centrist appeasing coward. Lest we forget: cowards are often those who puff up and present themselves as the heroic. Did he say a fucking thing during that landmark Crossfire interview of Jon Stewart? No, he didn't. He let Tucker take the brunt, and he cowered off camera.

Heaping derision on anything that smacks of "conspiracy", he's a truly dangerous person, and being a media critter, his personal image is more important than affiliation with policy.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

[Walt Starr]

49. That's why I said unacceptable.

:evilgrin:

[Hippo_Tron]

69. When did he pass out KFC while talking to a PETA activist?

I don't remember this at all. And the point of the Stewart interview was really for Jon Stewart to argue with Tucker Carlson. Begala was sort of supposed to sit there and not say anything, it would've been a completely different interview if he had.

[imenja]

52. I can't believe it

Speechless here.

[Leilani]

53. Probably another Hillary Clinton stalking horse

Harold Ickes is running & is Hillary's guy, but he doesn't seem to have much support.

The Clintons would like to maintain their power after Terry leaves.

[AmerDem]

54. Begala represents a Democratic party I no longer want to be part of.

These weak tv talking heads that are more concerned with the money they are stuffing away then where the future of our country is headed. There is something inherently wrong when these people aren't concerned about the massive corruption and voting fraud taking over our country. I'm starting to think that they have also benefited nicely from this fraud. I hope I'm wrong but my heart says it may be so.

[IStriker]

58. If he gets the job, it just means...

the Clintons maintain their death grip on the party.

[IndianaGreen]

60. Begala is a sleaze bag and a DLC puke!

Begala supported Zell Miller's efforts to defeat Cynthia McKinney by running a pro-AIPAC protege of his, Denise Majette. Begala thought it was an outrage that Cynthia had suggested that Bush had been forewarned of an attack on the US by Al-Qaeda. We now know from the 9/11 Commission that Bush was warned about an impending attack on American soil by AL-Qaeda. Cynthia was right! Bush knew! Begala and Zell were wrong!

[Hippo_Tron]

66. Not that it's relevent to your point, but weren't those comments made up?

Din't Cynthia McKinney never actually say that?

[talk hard]

61. Paul Begala isn't right for the job.

After having observed Mr. Begala on Crossfire until Bob Novak stunk up the show with outing the CIA agent, I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Begala is a centrist, plain and simple.

And not equipped for DNC chair.

I don't want a nice guy. A communicator. I want someone that will make the Republicans tear out their hair.

I want Howard Dean for DNC chair.

They make fun of him but it is clear his successful populist message scares the crap out of the lords of the red states. Dean is too controversial to be a successful presidential candidate, but he is tailor-made for DNC chair.

And I still think McAullife did a good job organizing, fund raising, and making the party solvent. He was not responsible for the candidate, the message, the policies, etc. He doesn't represent the DLC. He did a good job, and I think it would behoove some people to understand that and not be bamboozled by misguided gratuitous attacks on him.

[illbill]

62. ...

I liked the guy for the longest time until he acted like a PUSSY when Jon Stewart was on Crossfire. Begala turtled and blatently said nothing to keep his job.

The last thing the Democrats need are more turtlers. :(

[Clarkie1]

63. I think Dean would be the perfect fit for DNC chair

The job of the DNC chair should be to energize and coordinate the grassroots, and raise money for our candidates.

Dean would fit that job description perfectly.

[BrklynLiberal]

64. Isthere any chance that we will get someone with some guts in that job?

DUH!!! Someone who will energize the TRUE liberal/progressive thinking base of the Democratic party!!!! If this party moves any further to the right and becomes any more enmeshed with the corporate interests, it might as well just merge with the Republican party. The Democratic Party will have abandoned every single basic principle that defined it from its inception. Why should anyone who believes in those principles stay in the party?
We need to dig in and start demanding that our leadership get some cujones and stand up and spit back at these Repugnants!!! Move further LEFT, not to the right!!!!!! Get more stubborn about the principles we stand for, not waver over them. How can we expect people to follow us if we are not sure where we are going???

It was Arianna Huffington who quoted George Lakoff:

"As cognitive psychologist George Lakoff told me: "Democrats moving to the middle is a double disaster that alienates the party's progressive base while simultaneously sending a message to swing voters that the other side is where the good ideas are." It unconsciously locks in the notion that the other side's positions are worth moving toward, while your side's positions are the ones to move away from. Plus every time you move to the center, the right just moves further to the right."

From this article:

THE NEXT DNC CHAIR: WHY YOU SHOULD CARE

Arianna Huffington, AlterNet

[Pushed To The Left]

85. How about Lakoff for DNC chair?

He is an expert at framing the issues, which might be what we need right now.

[Hippo_Tron]

68. Isn't Begala just Carville's protegé

Or have they differed in political views?

[DaveinMD]

82. Begala

is Carville's equal. They were partners in a political consulting firm. There views on policy are meaningless. They existed to help win elections.

[demo dutch]

83. He's a Clinton man Would he take to party back to the Center?

that may be a bad choice!

[DaveinMD]

84. its not a center or left issue

its reframing the debate and bringing populism back to our arguments. Carville and Begala get this. They don't have an ideological horse. They are consultants. They don't have an agenda beyond winning.

[Hippo_Tron]

86. Good way of putting it

They might be what we need for DNC chair but I'd tend to think that Begala would be better off just as a strategist.

[ally_sc]

105. is carville completely out

of consideration?

[Hippo_Tron]

107. I'm sure his name has been thrown around

But personally I think Carville needs to be the chief strategist on the next dem nominee's campaign, as should Begala (hence I don't think that he should be chair either). The big question is, what do you want the DNC chair to do? Terry McCauliffe was an excellent fundraiser, which is what I always thought the DNC chair's job was. However, people are now looking at the DNC chair as though he will be the face of our party and shape the agenda until we get a presidential nominee in four years. McCauliffe made a shitty face and a shitty opposition leader but if it's the fundraising that counts (which I think it is personally), then he did a damn good job. I think that we should leave the face and the agenda of the party to the elected officials.

[w4rma]

71. My first choice is Dean, also. But you guys need to quit tearing down

*everyone* else who comes down the pike for any little transgression. Regardless of Begala's position on issues (which I believe I have been in agreement with the vast majority of the time) he is a fighter. And a fighter is what we need as a DNC chair. He also has *lots* of TV experience, and that's also what we could use in a DNC chair.

He's a mechanic. Not just a spokesperson. Maybe it would be a decent comprimise with the DNC leadership who are baselessly scared of making Gov. Dean an official spokesperson for the Democratic Party.

[autorank]

80. I agree with you. Begala was a winner and takes no prisoners.

He isn't my choice, I'd like to see Dean get it.

What we need more than a DNC chairman is a "voice of the opposition." We simply don't have one.

When the Repukes were in the minority in the 50's/60's they had an opposition forum called "The Ev and Charlie Show" - Sen Dirksen and Rep Halleck, Sen and House Minority Leaders. It was pathetic. We don't even have that (haha "The Harry and Nancy Show").

We are less than pathetic now.

I hope we have a campaign to the people with a strong spokesman/woman. I nominate Clark for a national tour.

[IndianaGreen]

95. Why is Begala silent about Ohio?

Why isn't this shithead raising a stink about the voting irregularities in Ohio and Florida?

Begala is a mouthpiece for the status quo. He is the last thing we need as DNC Chair.

[autorank]

96. Oh, I agree. It's just so bad, he looks semi acceptable.

Why are they all quiet about Ohio? I don't know. I guess they "hate our values." It baffles me that "voting rights" could be considered controversial. They don't have to say the election was stolen, which I could see as a tactic since it's not "proved" yet (it is to me but aMercans need video) but vote suppression, vote irregularities, voting rights violations abound. The lack of a "voting rights" outrage by our party is stunning.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

90. We Need Real Change

A shakeup, instead of Just Another Old Guarder.

Dean or Rosenberg, for me.

DTH

[robbedvoter]

92. Begala: My mom thinks W is a nice man. Dems have to campaign

on her terms....

[DemDogs]

97. Clintons' "anyone but Dean" bid? (n/t)

[greenohio]

100. What will become of the conspiracy theories if

Dean wins and the DLCers lose? Will the constant whining about "too much DLC power" and the "DLC traitors" language stop and we can get back to bashing the real repukes? If so I would support Dean, for that reason alone, even though he is moderate.

[Geek_Girl]

101. I'd feel better about the Democratic party if Dean won the DNC chair

but I still won't support a candidate that doesn't reflect my core values. But I've voted for and liked Clinton, Gore and Kerry who were all DLC. I just don't like the changing in position on abortion, gay rights, and social security or the supporting of the war in Iraq.

[greenohio]

102. I think that is a healthy position.

Kerry stood pretty firm on abortion, gay rights, and ss. He wavered on Iraq and it drove me nuts too.

That said, I won't choose who I support based on one issue. I'm glad your not either.

[Geek_Girl]

103. I guess if Begala gets it

It will mean Hillary in '08 and Karl Rove's dream comes true.

[jellybelly]

104. Paul Begala would be the best

He's probably the only democrat that leaves the repugs stuttering.

[IndianaGreen]

109. No, Begala is the one that leaves liberals stuttering

Paul Begala would be the best. He's probably the only democrat that leaves the repugs stuttering.

Begala would be nothing more than Hillary's man on the DNC. Let's get someone other than a tool for the status quo!

[Jimmy D]

110. Paul Begala would be my pick

He understands that negative politics works regards of what focus groups say.

[youngred]

106. haven't heard it

and doubt it's a good idea. I like Paul and everything, don't get me wrong. But he's not chairman material and he does a better service as a pundit and advisor than as a chair

[moggie12]

111. Begala has smarts

Begala would be better than Dean, that's for sure! I actually would like a DNC Chair who would start a big fight, i.e., that famous "struggle for the soul of the Party" everybody's been avoiding for so long. Maybe Centrists and Progressives should go their own separate ways. From what I read on message boards, I can't imagine how the Democratic Party is ever going to come up with a coherent message. We have enormous internal differences within our own Party!