Dean: "They can tag us with liberal or whatever they want..."

[madfloridian]

From an excellent recent interview here are some statements about not worrying so much about labels. We need to worry more about setting the agenda of going forward.

In a discussion of the tendencies to move right, Dean gave the following answer about just moving "straight forward."

SNIP..."HD: You know, I don’t think we should dwell on that., I really think we should , instead of worrying about that there’s some other groups that want to move to the right, I think we ought to keep going straight forward. I think we are the moderate folks. They can tag us with the word “liberal” or whatever they want, and there’s nothing wrong with “liberal”, believe me, but I don't think we should pay attention to that any more. That’s one thing I would do differently if I were ,if I had to go back and do it over again, I wouldn’t bother with the DLC or the retrograde(s), their forces in the party, I would try to move forward on our own agenda. You get sucked in to letting somebody else frame the agenda, that’s a problem. We shouldn’t let the Republicans do it nor should we let the DLC or anybody else like that do it."

[sniffa]

1. fuck yeah!!

woot!

[Celeborn Skywalker]

2. I can't decide

if I want Dean to be the DNC chair or if I want him to run for president again. Either way, I won't be disappointed.

[jswordy]

9. DEAN'S DA MAN!!!

I really want him to run for prez again, but I fear the party would be too stupid to nominate him!

My "moderate" friends over at the DNC blog all lambasted me for it, but I tell ya what I think:

If we had run Dean instead of a Question Mark called ELECTABILITY, we'd all be getting ready for an inauguration!

I told my DNC blogger detractors to please read the story of http://www.otmfan.com/html/brertar.htm">Brer Rabbit while thinking of Brer Rabbit as the Rebublicans and of we Democrats as Brer Fox.

Then recall how Rove and Bush kept saying, "Yeah, Dean is the one we WANT to run. We can beat him easily!"

"Born and bred in the briar patch. I was born and bred in the briar patch!"

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Dean is a voice of reason in the madness around us.

-------------------------------------
Liberal and darned proud about it!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[xultar]

10. But why is it when I say the same thing Y'all flame me? n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

Flame you in what way?

-------------------------------------
Liberal and darned proud about it!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[xultar]

13. When I say we don't need to fight amongst each other about the DLC/DNC

thing.

People get all up @ arms we have to get rid of the DLC, they are the enemy, they are Rethug lite blah blah blah...

It seemed we spent more time and energy blasting one another over the DLC thing that we didn't have enough left over to deal with OH. There's nothing we can do to over thow the DLC from this end. We should work on supporting the agenda that means the most to us. Where there are people there is $$ and power. The DLC will fall on its own.

The circular firing squad is helping nothing.

Dean and I agree on that one for sure.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. I see what you are saying. But I do think that there can be some effect

made on the DLC from our lowly end. If we can boycott GOP businesses and the like, we can do the same to the DLCers. ;)

-------------------------------------
Liberal and darned proud about it!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[xultar]

15. The DLC has NO POWER...they are nothing just some talking heads

in DC.

Spend your energy on Dean and DFA. The DCL will dissolve all on its own.

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. They certainly have had some power in the past. I hope you are right and

hey are on their way out.

-------------------------------------
Liberal and darned proud about it!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[xultar]

18. Let's push'em out. We donated to the DNC because we were ABB

That phase is over. Let's set the agenda with our feet and our $$$$. WE are the ones with the power. What are they without us.

NOTHIN baby!

[w4rma]

19. Because it's the DLC who is trying to suppress this message.

We have to kick the DLC out of the Democratic Party and replace the DLC with a moderate (and especialy, loyal) Democratic organization for moderates to join.

I suggest that the NDN replace the DLC. The leadership of the DLC are nothing but backstabbing traitors. The folks at the NDN appear to be pretty reasonable moderates.

http://www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,641110,00.html

[itzamirakul]

39. The NDN is another form of the DLC

It is an off-shoot group formed because of an argument between From and Rosenberg. The agenda is basically the same.

And, btw...what about Progressive Democrats who are SICK and TIRED of the "centrist" moderate, Republican-lite bullshit that groups like NDN embrace? Should the party just "kick them to the curb?"

Both the DLC and the NDN favor ignoring the base and seeking to align themselves with more Republican voters. IMO, they are all Republican plants - Trojan horses.

NO DLC

NO NDN

[Eloriel]

47. Thank you, saved me the trouble n/t

[salin]

20. the DLC seems to be trying to do a swan dive

to irrelevancy - by attacking other dems - while claiming to want "inclusiveness". I think there dog done gone hunting and left them in the stands...

[janx]

46. Or a swan song...

RETROGRADE...

[Kahuna]

22. And when I say labels like "liberal" and "progressive" is a distraction..

the excuses abound. Dean says forget the labels and it's, "F!CK YEAH!" Then later I'll be told that Dean was the first to say it. :eyes:

[madfloridian]

23. I have not said that.

I agree. I have posted several times that I felt that way. We have got to quit with the labels. I don't know who was the first to say it, but he has said it all along during the campaign.

He has said to call him anything.

[Kahuna]

30. Thanks Mad!

:yourock: We don't generally agree politically. But I think you are a very nice and kind person. :loveya:

[madfloridian]

32. Thanks for kind words today.

:hi:

[Worst Username Ever]

4. Kick for ass-kickingness

[madfloridian]

29. LOL.... kick for SAKAL

That is according to Liberal Oasis...."Strategist and Ass Kicker At Large." They were advocating that position for Dean.

You just made up a whole new word. :evilgrin:

[Nite Owl]

5. Every time this guy says

something I love him more.

[x_y_no]

6. Yeah, I can agree with that.

Well put.

[freedom_to_read]

7. good stuff, doc!

He's right about this, you know. Time was that there were 'progressives' who wanted to take this country forward, and 'conservatives' who wanted to keep it where it was. Now we've got reactionaries like Bush who want to take us back to the late 19th century gilded age. We've got to stop worry about left and right, and just say, "let's move forward."

[xultar]

8. I wouldn’t bother with the DLC ---That is what I've been trying to say...

Why even bother with them. Why are we fighting amongst each other over the DLC. Why not follow the agenda that is worth following.
It will be where the people and their $$$$$ goes that win this. Not bickering and fighting amonts each other.

If a DLCer get's the DNC chair then don't give the DNC any money.


Donate it to the person, agenda, organization of your choice either Dean's DFA or Clark's WES-Pac.

That'll show'em

[Zenlitened]

11. I think I would go completely out of my mind...

... if Howard Dean was not out there leading the way. He just plain GETS IT, he really does. Whether he becomes DNC chair or not, he's going to continue to be our voice, and I'm very grateful for that.

Thanks for sharing those quotes, madfloridian. This is me lately:



:D

[DaveinMD]

17. that's a great cartoon

I love Calvin and Hobbes.

[bahrbearian]

12. YeeHaaw !

[WI_DEM]

21. Once again the doctor talks sense

[zann725]

35. Write a 'prescription, Doc...to make the DNC 'well' again...pleeease!

You da man! Tell it like it is!

[janx]

24. YEEAAARRGH! n/t

[madfloridian]

41. Me, too, what you just said.

:hi:

[graywarrior]

25. DLC & DNC have done NOTHING to impress me

Dean, however, rocks...bigtime.

[InvisibleBallots]

26. Damn right

Dean is the only one that gets it.

[Larkspur]

27. Awesome picture of Dean! Love his smile and love his ass-kicking tongue

I just hope that if he becomes DNC Chair that he does not bridle his tongue when Dems as well as Repukes need a good tongue lashing from him.

[XemaSab]

28. I'm torn...

I'd really like to see Dean lead the Democrats to victory as DNC chair, but I'd also like to see him pound Bill Frist's head repeatedly into an icy puddle in 2008.

[Zhade]

31. Fuckin' A. I like the guy more every day. And I'm not even a Dean fan!

NT!

[Gloria]

33. Dean seems to be the man for now! I always liked him, but

now I positively LOVE him! He's a breath of fresh air which this party sorely needs.....

[proudbluestater]

34. Just perfect! Is it February yet? He BETTER be DNC Chair!

[janx]

48. Well whatever happens, I think it's clear that Dean isn't going away.

He has become the voice of real grassroots democracy in our country.

[Borgnine]

36. I'm not gay.

But you know what? I'd make passionate man-love to Howard Dean.

I can't decide if he should be the head of the DNC or run in 2008. I'm thinking the first option is best, because we need change in our party before we can start winning again.

[Eloriel]

49. Uh, he's not gay either, so he might not like that

But it has to be one of the funniest fan/supporter comments I've ever seen. LOL.

[Annus Horribilis]

37. JFK Said It Best

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

Rest of speech:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/35_kennedy/psources/ps_nyliberal.html

[Selatius]

38. Why does our side always lose the best and brightest?

Why is it that good guys always have to do the losing and dying while the others do the lying and the hurting?

[eSTIV]

42. because our side HAS all the best and brightest!

[JNelson6563]

40. Says what I'm thinkin'

again. Also, great pic! Thanks for posting MF!

Julie

[madfloridian]

44. You are welcome....

I am waiting for a new link on this. It got displaced temporarily, I will relink later.

It is such a good interview.

[Padraig18]

43. A progressive voice of reason and sanity!

:yourock: , Howard!

[cags]

45. I wish he was my president!! nt

[dave29]

50. woot!

:)

[madfloridian]

51. Link change from original interview.

Here is the new link.

[janx]

53. Please check your PM! Thanks!

[madfloridian]

54. Got it and replied.

:hi:

[Bouncy Ball]

52. God I love him.

Every time he opens his mouth I find myself nodding vigorously. He just NAILS how I feel. ROCK ON DEAN!!!!!

[mzmolly]

55. Great stuff, thanks for posting.

:hi:

[madfloridian]

56. Another link at Break for News.....thanks to them for posting.

http://www.breakfornews.com/articles/DeanInterview041230.htm

In this whole thread, I forgot to give Mike credit for his words that so well describe what this Dean thing is about:

SNIP.."With his (Dean's) characteristic intensity, he purposefully moves ahead on his path, focused even more precisely on his goal: to remake the Democratic Party. Maybe "remake" isn't really the right choice of words. And the focus on the Democratic Party, even that is too narrow. We are talking about no less than a Renaissance of the populace. Reinvigoration of long moribund participatory democracy free and unfettered by corporate lobbyists. A return to Core Values of the American Ideal. For Howard Dean and his legions, this is the goal. I march with them. It is
with this as a background that I pursued my conversation with him, via his cell phone....."