Howard Dean Perfect To Revive Dems' Spirit

[Larkspur]

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0222-29.htm

It was fun watching Howard Dean, the newly elected Democratic National Committee chair, debate on C-SPAN with neocon Richard Perle.

Had it been a boxing match, the referee would have called a TKO early in the fight, but instead it went on as the students and faculty members in Oregon were thrilled at the performance of the Democratic Party spokesman articulating ideas instead of arguing that Democrats are better managers.

It was a reminder that there once was a Democratic Party that stood for something, before the Democratic Leadership Council convinced Democrats to feed from the same trough as Republicans if they hoped to win.

Because Howard Dean is a former presidential candidate who was right on the Bush invasion of Iraq and had the guts to say so, he has the stature to make people listen. He is, as Paul Krugman described, a "fighting moderate."

What is that? A moderate Democrat who is willing to take stands on issues affecting real people. The people who are unwelcome in the lobbyists' Legislature, who fight Wal-Mart sprawl, slaughterhouses in their downtown, ethanol factories near where people live, and factory farms. People who think the Public Service Commission ought to fight for the ratepayers instead of the utilities. Former Democrats who tired of watching incumbent Democrats act just like Republicans because they need the campaign contributions so they can enact social policy while going along with corporate economic policy. Those who watch Jim Doyle in sadness play the old game of "forget the progressives, they won't have a choice in 2006."
<SNIP>

[Armstead]

1. Dean is still Dean

I was glad to see on the CSPAN replay of this that old Howard is as strong as ever.

With all the talk that he would "tone down" as DNC Chair, I was worried that he'd pull punches and be just anotehr boring centrist.

But, while he had many centrist themes like a strong military, Dean didn't pull back from his opposition to the war, or from the fundamental economic issues like corporate power.

[Justitia]

2. Thank you for this, Larkspur.

I appreciate the link.
And I must tell you, whenever I read one of your posts, I LOVE seeing "Guernica" in your tag line! I am always tempted to obtain a reproduction somewhere and get it framed for my home.

For those interested, here is a link to some background of "Guernica: Testimony of War" by Picasso. It has a nice ending. Wish Picasso could see Spain today, with it's promising progressive gov't and people to be proud of.

http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/guernica/gmain.html

oops! edited to add link

[Larkspur]

5. Your welcome about the Guernica picture

I think I actually got the link of my picture from the web page you have on your post.

[marcologico]

3. If Dean doesn't get on Gannongate quick he's history.

Durbin is already out there. It's pretty clear where Dean is and it ends with '08.

[gratuitous]

4. Which is why . . .

CNN is doing its level best to discredit Dean, replaying the scream over and over, knowing full well that it has all the authenticity of a photo of Lee Harvey Oswald driving Dale Gribble's lawnmower.