Ya stays with the one what brung ya to the dance .....

[Stinky The Clown]

..... and that would be Howard Dean.

Right now, the only reason for which this man should leave his office is his OWN PERSONAL CHOICE.

There are many people responsible for our breathtaking success, but it all flows to Howard Dean.

[Ringo84]

1. Don't mean to be smart or to step on toes

But exactly what did Dean do to help us win? No, I'm not stupid. I'd like to know so I'm informed.
Ringo

[Warren Stupidity]

2. 50 state strategy

Dean changed the funding strategy of the DNC from focused on strategic districts to party building in every state with a goal of competing in races everywhere.

I'd say it was an excellent strategy for 06.

[Ringo84]

3. Oh. OK.

See, I was still thinking about the Dean scream from 2003 or 4. I stand corrected.
Ringo

[calimary]

8. Dean decided we needed a party presence in ALL states, not just

the ones we thought we could win. Before he came along, the Democratic establishment had all but written off states like Mississippi, Indiana, Alabama, and other enclaves considered bright red. There were neglected Democrats there, literally starving for attention, funding, and other support from the party. Blockheads like Terry McAuliffe put those Dems securely on "ignore." And look at the successes he had because of that. (DRIPPING Sarcasm here.)

Howard Dean wanted the Dems to build up an infrastructure everywhere so we could compete everywhere. I heard on Air America today (from Joe Conason, I think) that in places where we had no presence, the only people left standing were republi-CONS, and that allowed THEM to frame us and name us, and say who we were and what we were about - and there was NOBODY to rebut any of it OR set the record straight. With Howard Dean calling the shots, an infrastructure was constructed in all these places, like Virginia, for example. Conason pointed out that when Webb stepped up to the plate, even though outspent FIVE TO ONE by felix allen, Webb was able to win because the infrastructure was already in place, and we actually had ground game mechanisms available for him to take advantage of - WHERE THERE HAD BEEN NONE BEFORE.

Howard Dean's "50 state strategy" is what won us this election. They should be on their knees to him.

[kath]

23. I was gobsmacked that Dems won quite a few seats in Indiana, of all

places. I reckon that was a result of the 50 State Strategy, no?

Huzzah for Howard!!

[Hawkowl]

26. Indiana?!?!

I grew up in Indiana, in Northwest area, FORMERLY the only dem area in the state. I'm still stunned, dizzy, and in disbelief that Dems took so many seats! DEAN RULES! PERIOD!

[Redneck Socialist]

24. And he did it in just two years

That's the part that blows my mind. Incredible, simply incredible.

[calimary]

25. And as I heard it on - I dunno - CNN or MSNBC or someplace -

even Howard Dean would be surprised at how fast it got results. He'd cautioned the Dems early-on that this kind of reconstruction project might take several years to manifest any impact. Perhaps it's indicative of how extreme, and widely recognized the need for such a strategy was, how many people were yearning for it, and how many people responded positively. Maybe they really were starving for this. Glad we finally fed 'em!

[K8-EEE]

4. When Macaca crashed, we had a viable candidate and team

in VA -- I read that as part of the 50 state strategy that worked (and gave us control of the Senate!)

[soothsayer]

5. ya' dance with who brung ya' (same diff, I guess!)

[azurnoir]

6. To replace Dean with Ford

would almost be fitting a GOP stereotype of Dems; that is to punish success and reward failure(although I am not sure that word fits Mr.Ford). None the less, leave Howard alone he very much deserves the gratitude of the DNC not the opposite.

[mitchtv]

9. It would cost them dearly

this is one Gay who would no longer particpate$$$$$
I'm sure Ford could alienate many more

[blondeatlast]

7. Well, he's cuter than Terry McAuliffe by far,

and a MUCH better dancer!

I've never been an HD fan, but I sure as hell am appreciating my escort to Dc now.

[welshTerrier2]

10. perhaps so ...

i have always agreed with Dean's 50 state strategy ...

the Democratic Party, it seems to me, has very different strategic requirements today than it had before the election ... is Dean the right man for the job? i have no problem giving him a chance ... but the measure should not be looking to his past accomplishments but rather on what vision he provides for what comes next ...

with our new power, the task becomes far more complex ... it was fairly easy, or at least easier, to herd all those Democratic cats when you were rattling the food dish before the election ... coming together in the great "anti-bush" was an easy mark to achieve ...

but now, not so much ...

it is now time to lay down our vision and that vision may not be easy to craft into a unified whole ... and hot on the heels of such direction setting comes the primaries and the divisiveness of my candidate versus yours ... it is not at all clear to me what Dean's record either has been or will be when it comes to fence building ...

should he be allowed to continue as before based on the party's success? absolutely ... but today is not yesterday and he who brung ya this far may or may not be the proper conveyance moving forward ... too much is at stake to let past successes and blind loyalties map the path ... for now, he stays and that's fine with me ...

[Stinky The Clown]

11. Anecdotal evidence of Dean's winning strategy ... from Maryland

In years past (I've been here about 30 years) our ground game was modest and mediocre. Yeah, the troops were sorta there sorta doing it. But much was left on the table.

THIS time it was a WHOLE new story. In our suburban county, there were 500+ volunteers on hand and ready to do what we were told. Smiling faces and eager body language. Young old, and in between. The rain didn't stop the enthusiasm one damned bit. And our assignments were far from random. The 'ground game commanders' had comiled lsist of everyone who had voted 'sporadically Democratic' over the last (I don't know how many) election cycles. We had maps. We had addresses, we had checklists, we got lunch, we got snacks, we had a hot supper promised at the end, and we got going! Knocking on doors and making these people promise to get out and vote.

I know we're reputed to be a Democratic state, but look at out map and you'll see that our counties look like much of th US - blue urban areas and red rural and outer suburbs. The ground game made a huge difference. We just worked one day knocking doors. Over the course of the campaign, they had thousands of other volunteers out there passing literature and talking to people. The phone game was part of the ground game and the phone banks were busy.

I have NEVER seen anything near this level of participation. It didn't happen by serendipity, that's for sure. It was planned and executed with central command.

That goes to Howard Dean.

[welshTerrier2]

13. central command? hmmmmmm ...

please understand my intent was not to criticize Dean but only to question how the next months will require very different skills ...

it's not clear to me that Dean was quite as omnipotent, especially in very blue states, as your post suggests ... it's not that i necessarily disagree; it's more that i don't believe that was the case in MA where i live ...

here, after 16 years of republican governors right in the heart and soul of Kennedy country, the man with the magic was not Howard Dean but rather Deval Patrick ... i joined his campaign very early on ... the people who got involved early were warriors ... the ground game you described was everywhere ... everyone wanted in and they came with a self-inspired sense of purpose ... the classic cliche that "this election is not about me; it's about you" was repeated by Patrick over and over and over ... it was so obvious it barely needed saying although we were always glad to hear it ...

there's an awakening going on here ... after the cowering drivel of hearings on the state's new gay marriage law, yesterday the legislature all but put an end to the possibility of letting the issue go before the voters ... the legislature knows the score; they can feel the new energy ... here, i believe we are finally emerging from the darkness ... our words will come more freely; we will not strain to skirt around the naysayers ... today, we will look them straight in the eye and tell them their oppressive ways are no more ...

so Dean's leadership and influence may have been very small here ... i take nothing away from him for his efforts elsewhere ... in Massachusetts, the biggest kudos have to go to our gov elect and the indomitable spirit of warriors who had just plain had all they were going to stand for ... truly, it is a new day ... there's plenty of kudos to go around ...

[madfloridian]

22. Isn't Terry Lierman your state chair? He's great.

Very organized.

[xxqqqzme]

18. I guess you haven't been listening to Howard since Tuesday.

Do you think that just because we eked out a slim majority in the Senate and got a majority in the House that Howard's task is complete? There was NO money that flowed from the DCCC to progressive candidates - NONE. rahm gave $$$ to HIS handpicked candidates. If we had allowed that to be 'the plan', we would not have scored like we did on Tuesday. And we would still be out here wringing our hands and making plans to leave the country.

Consider what happened on Tuesday...now think back to '94, '96' '98, '00, '02 and '04. Tell me how many of those years we enjoyed a majority in the House and Senate?

Consider the definition of insanity - twelve years of the same ole shit. In January, '05 we got Howard Dean as DNC chair - see the difference?

[katinmn]

19. There was NO money that flowed from the DCCC to progressive candidates

True statement.

And a lot of progressives that could have won didn't because of that.

[welshTerrier2]

21. it seems you are making the exact point i made

i said: "it is not at all clear to me what Dean's record either has been or will be when it comes to fence building ..."

your point about the divide between Dean and the DCCC seems to speak to that ... and things are going to get much, much worse once all the primary idiocy gets rolling ...

again, i am NOT criticizing Dean; i'm merely pointing out that the mission is different now than it was leading up to the election ... now is the time to ensure that all Democrats have a voice and to build a "unity of compromise" among the party's factions ... unity before the election was far easier than it's going to be now ... we were all hungry and we all sought power ... now we have power and are forced to find a way to share it ... the greatest dissension is most often found when dividing up the spoils ...

is Dean up to the task? go ahead and make your case; i'm just not sure ... for now, the ball's in his court ... i hope he succeeds ...

[DemBones DemBones]

12. If you don't, you'll get a bad reputation!

I opposed Dean for president but he's done a good job as DNC chairman and I support his keeping the position. Whenever I've seen him on television as DNC chair, Dean has been articulate and strong without being snide like Mehlman.

[troubleinwinter]

14. ... especially when ya won the dance prize together.

[ChiciB1]

15. This Man Has NEVER Gotten Credit For Anything! It Really Makes

me so very mad!! Oh, it's Shumer, then it's Emmanuel... and of course Clinton!

But you know what, Howard Dean just takes it all in and doesn't snipe back! He's focused and works extremely hard with super determination! I'm so glad other countries get it at least!

Thank you Howard Dean, you just keeping on truckin' cause I'm followin'!

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. Howard Dean is my man.

And I don't even consider myself a progressive.

[AtomicKitten]

17. Dean has done a great job as DNC Chair.

eom

[lumberjack_jeff]

20. ... and then only if he can chew through the duct tape holding him to his chair.

... and get past the throngs of fawning acolytes. We love our Howard.