Draft Howard Dean

[DianeK]

It is no secret that there is much infighting in the DNC. It splits on those who agree with Rahm Emanuel and those who agree with Howard Dean. As Chair of the DNC, Dean trumped Emanuel in how things should be done and the Dems are now presiding over both the House and the Senate. That's huge! Dean has proven himself over and over again and the DNC continually want to shoot themselves in the foot.

Even after such a victory I am hearing the same old tired voices trying to downplay the role Dean played in this historic event. Those voices are coming from the Democrats themselves. What is up with that?

Why does Dean seem to be such a polarizing figure to some?

I would like to see Dean drafted as the Dems next presidential candidate. I know he made some kind of commitment not to run but this is politics and all is fair, as they say.

I gag at the thought of Hillary, I think that although obviously intelligent and charismatic Obama has not yet proven himself and any of the other names floating around just seems to suggest DLC. Dean would shake this party up and he has already proven that he can garner the support. I am curious to know if anyone else has had this thought

[iamjoy]

1. What Does Emanuel Want

and how is that different than Dean?

[Le Taz Hot]

2. Howard Dean needs to stay right where he is.

There has been no one more effective in that DNC chair than Howard Dean and all but the completely brain dead have to recognize that even if they won't admit it. Harold Ford, Jr. is a big boy and favored by the Party Elite, they'll find another position for him.

As for the primary candidates, the DLC pretty much has that one locked up just by sheer number of candidates unless, of course, someone comes in from under the radar and I don't see that happening.

[Clark2008]

3. Please - has Ford said he WANTED this position?

No?

I think that was a Carville creation. Can we reserve our ire toward the Rajun Cajun? Ford, in my opinion, probably doesn't want to leave Tennessee. He may stick around for a run in two years against boring old Lamar Alexander (and he'll have more luck once Tennesseans see that, with two Republican senators and in the minority, we won't get squat).

I agree with you, though, that Dean needs to stay where he is. I adore Dean, but I am also pragmatic enough to realize that Dean would not flip my state (Tennessee) in a national election, nor any other red or purple state (Tennessee is purple: Dem governor, Dem General Assembly, Rep senators, etc.). Dean's strengths are his ability to fire up the base, his intelligence to implement the 50-state strategy and his ability to fund-raise. However, either because of media manipulation or because of his personality or because of whatever, he's not really a red-state flipper (and neither is Hillary or Obama, for that matter; although theirs is because of their sex and color, sadly enough).

I wish to God it weren't this way, but it is and will be until our Democrats can see the forest for the trees and re-implement the Fairness Doctrine.

[INdemo]

4. Rove is involved in this rumor somehow.

[OzarkDem]

7. As I posted earlier in another thread

the only people who want Dean out as head of the DNC are the GOP.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. What Amazing Things Has Ford Done?

He just lost an election. Big deal - even I can do that.

[Le Taz Hot]

9. Ford doesn't have to actually

DO anything. The DLC love him cause he's pliable and he's the right color. Hillary hasn't DONE anything either, which is really what this whole brouhaha is all about.

[OzarkDem]

6. DLC candidates struggled this year

Those who did win did so by pretty small margins. The big winners were more traditional Dems because their platform and message were different from the GOP's and supported individuals above corporations. Voters rejected the GOP vision of governing and DLC didn't really have an alternative to offer them.

[caseycoon]

8. Dean is best choice

by far! :applause:

[mtnsnake]

10. I'd love to see Howard Dean get another shot

It's hard to explain WTF happened in Iowa. It's mind boggling. He was on such a roll and the country seemed to be really liking him. If ever there were two people who ran, didn't make it, but deserved to be President, I would pick Dean and Gore.