How Long Will Howard Dean Last As The Chair, And Who Would Replace Him?

[fightindonkey]

Do you think Howard will last as the head of the DNC for years and years to come. If he left tomorrow, who would you like to see take his place?

[yourout]

1. I say we keep Dean and dump the DLC.

[avaistheone1]

4. I am with you.

The DLC is Republican lite. They consciously work to undermine the election of progessive candidates.

I think Howard Dean has done a great job. I think he is one of the primary reasons Democrats had such a big win back in November.

[Cha]

10. I'm thirding it then!

Dean's been out there in the trenches for two years now(seems longer) working extraodinarily hard to turn our Democratic Foundations around after terry mcauliff only made sure the corporations were happy.

[gorekerrydreamticket]

32. He's done a much better job than the Clinton sock-puppet McAuliffe

my two cents

[IndianaGreen]

2. Dean will get canned after the Denver Convention

particularly if Hillary is the nominee.

Dean blew up with the way he disenfranchised voters in Michigan and Florida, and by keeping the Iowa caucus as first in the nation. That wasn't reform, that was more of the same shit inside a different package.

Off with his head!

[tsuki]

11. Dean did not disenfranchise me. The Florida Democratic Party

disenfranchised me. They went against the vote by the DNC, 447 members, on the primary schedule. The Florida Democratic Party is as lawless as Republicans.

It is my opinion, and many of my Democratic friends, that this was done to destroy the populist movement in the Democratic Party. Out with the DNC, In with the DLC.

That is why this lifelong Democratic entering my seventh decade is now an Independent. Blue Dogs, don't count on me.

[Cha]

13. Thank you for your

imput, tsuki! Sorry about the dlc Florida dems or dinos.

[tsuki]

23. Look at Florida, and you are looking at Blue Dogs.

I supported Allen Boyd for Congress in 2004, and the first thing he did upon returning to Congress was try to join with the Republicans to "fix" Social Security, i. e. privatize.

He even made the Atrios "Wall of Shame."

And don't even get me started on Senator Bill Nelson. I'd vote my yellow dog before I'd ever vote him again.

[Cha]

24. I hear ya! May their

slime render them impotent..sooner than later!

[avaistheone1]

17. You are right.

The Florida Democratic Party did it to themselves. Don't blame Howard Dean.

[LittleClarkie]

14. They blew up themselves, and btw that's just one more reason not to vote for Hillary

Florida and Michigan knew the rules, vote for the rules, and decided to side with the Republicans in their states to flaunt the rules. They disenfranchised themselves.

[regnaD kciN]

3. I think it's only a four-year term...

...and am not even sure if he could run again if he wanted to.

Besides, if Hillary Rove-ham Clinton gets elected, I'm sure the Clintonistas will make a point of filling the position with one of their hand-picked business-as-usual DLC types in the Terry McAuliffe mode -- just like James Carville tried to get the Democrats to fire Dean as chairman a year ago (after his strategy had restored the Democrats to a congressional majority!), so he could be replaced by Harold Ford.

[Cha]

6. I see you're keepin'

up! :) That would make it 2009 that his term is up. I'm wondering what Dean will be doing to help our country after that cause I don't see him going out of the helping business.

[frazzled]

8. There is no term /nt

[Cha]

5. Dean's doing a great job and

there's more important shit to worry about than who's coming after Dean. How about donating to the DNC to help build up the Democratic Foundations in all 50 states for the election in November? :)

https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute?source=NETA454

[frazzled]

7. 2 to 4 years is the average tenure, in modern times

And often just a year or two. Here's a list since 1960 (for full list see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_National_Committee)


Henry M. Jackson (1960-1961) Washington
John Moran Bailey (1961-1968) Connecticut
Lawrence F. O'Brien (1968-1969) Massachusetts
Fred R. Harris (1969-1970) Oklahoma
Lawrence F. O'Brien (1970-1972) Massachusetts
Jean Westwood (1972) Utah
Robert S. Strauss (1972-1977) Texas
Kenneth M. Curtis (1977-1978) Maine
John C. White (1978-1981) Texas
Charles T. Manatt (1981-1985) California
Paul G. Kirk, Jr. (1985-1989) Massachusetts
Ron Brown (1989-1993) New York
David Wilhelm (1993-1994) Ohio
Debra DeLee (1994-1995) Massachusetts
Donald Fowler (1995-1997) South Carolina
Christopher J. Dodd1 (1995-1997) Connecticut
Steven Grossman (1997-1999) Massachusetts
Joseph Andrew (1999-2001) Indiana
Roy Romer1 (1999) Colorado
Edward G. Rendell1 (1999-2001) Pennsylvania
Terrence R. McAuliffe (2001-2005) Virginia
Howard Dean (2005-) Vermont

Given that he's been chair for 3 years now, I would imagine he will retire by choice or be replaced after the 2008 general elections. I doubt we'd want to change horses before then.

[Hippo_Tron]

20. He'll retire by choice once we win the White House

DNC Chair is a figurehead when your party is in power. Dean isn't up for that kind of gig.

[DFW]

9. I think Howard will be retained if he wants the job

Despite discord in the ranks over Michigan and Florida, and there
are definitely two sides to that question, I think he was close to
solely responsible for the wins of 2006, and this, along with his
not seeking the nomination as long as he is DNC chair, will be enough
to keep the job his.

If he is ousted, and we win the White House in 2008, any Democratic
president that ignores progressive goals will be looking over their
shoulder very nervously come re-election time. Howard will be there
breathing down the neck of the incumbent, and with a few hundred
thousand way-more-savvy once and future Deaniacs backing him up. If
John Edwards wins the White House AND truly pursues every goal he has
stated UNCOMPROMISINGLY--and when has THAT ever happened with a Democratic
president?--then MAYBE Howard would forego running even if no longer DNC chairman.

I think Howard stays put for more reasons than one.

[Cha]

12. As a Deaniac :)

I say..thanks for your analysis, DFW. If he wants to stay..who knows what will call?

[madfloridian]

26. DFW....how was New Year's Eve? Also did you see the DNC meeting

on C-Span? The DNC members put forth a statement that Dean stay as chair and chanted four more years. His answer was that four years ago he would have given anything to hear that. But his answer seemed to be no.

But if you think about it, in a public venue like that, what else could he say?

[Cha]

27. Interesting...time will

tell. After the election I hope Dean takes his family to our Fiftyith state. B-)

[DFW]

30. Howard has family in Central America, so Hawai'i may not be on the way

But he values his privacy, and if he decides to show up in Poipu
or the Kohala coast somewhere, chances are, he won't be announcing
it to the press beforehand.

[Cha]

33. Poipu! That's where I was

the day before hurricane Iniki and on Kauai for 6 years after. My son lives there and I'm going to retire there in 3 years and I'm really looking forward to it.

I just want the best for Dean because he's given so much to our country and I really appreciate that!

[DFW]

29. I don't get American TV where I usually hang out.

As a result, I don't usually watch it when I'm here, either.

It is either not public knowledge, or people have forgotten,
but for all his charisma in public, Howard is very much a
family man who will not compromise his private life. For the
first time since 2002, he was not at Renaissance Weekend this year,
as he had a family gathering in Central America. He had told me
this at a DNC thing in New York a couple of weeks earlier, so
this was no surprise to me. Andy knew, of course, as did the
organizers, but there were quite a few "where's Howard?" queries
that I had to answer.

The only reason I could imagine Howard stepping down would be if
he had quietly been offered some really fascinating post that he
could take on if we win the White House and increase our majority
in Congress. Maybe something like head of Médecins sans Frontières
or something like that. He certainly didn't mention it to me, but
nor did he have any reason to. All our talk was centered on the
2008 campaign. He certainly doesn't need my advice as to what he
wants to do with his life LOL!

As for New Year's in Charleston, there was curiously little political
star power this time. They were ALL out in Iowa, even most of the
pundits. A few of the regulars did show up, including two of my favorites,
Norm Ornstein and Eleanor Clift, and the absence of some of them, such
as CNN's Bill Schneider was not bemoaned. It was still pretty heady stuff!

[Cha]

35. Fascinating! Glad

to your post about some of what Dean is has been doing. Thank you, DFW!

[Truth2Tell]

15. Sadly, Dean will be gone after Denver.

It has traditionally been the prerogative of the Presidential nominee to place "their" person at the head of the Party after the convention. That's not about to change this year. The only chance would be if Edwards gets the Nom and Joe Trippi convinces him to keep Dean, but it's very very unlikely.

[Cha]

18. Even though Dean was

elected by the state chairmen? Well, the president replaces Dean with a dlc stoolie at their own peril, then.

[Truth2Tell]

21. He could stay according to the rules

technically. But he will resign if the nominee asks him too. He would risk completely dividing the Party otherwise and I just don't see him doing that. Hillary nom = no more Dean. Probably some dipshit corporate stooge like Terry McAuliffe. Could even be Rham Emmanuel. :puke:

[Cha]

22. Or harold ford...say

goodbye to our foundations that I've been rappin' about.

If the president were a smart one they would ask Dean if he would stay and keep doing the most excellent job that he has been. :)

[Truth2Tell]

25. Harold Ford.

You nailed it.

[Capn Sunshine]

38. and just where is this information located

Next to the US magazines in the Supermarket checkout line?

what you know about party politics is just about as deep.

[Truth2Tell]

43. Shall we watch and see Capn?

I'm sure you won't mind if I point you back to this thread at a later date, right?

[Hippo_Tron]

16. He will be gone after we win the White House

Party Chairman is a figurehead when we have a Democratic President and that's not Dean's kinda gig.

[Cha]

19. There's still work to be

done in all 50 states..Dean's made it a whole new ballgame:)

[Hippo_Tron]

28. True, but someone else will have to take the job

The party chairman literally takes marching orders from the White House political director when the party is in power. Dean won't go for that.

[Robbins]

31. Dean

If Hillary Is the nominee he will be gone after the convention.If Obama or Edwards Is the nominee
he stays through the election,and may be appointed to a cabent postion In the Obama or Edwards
Administration.

And for the record Florida and Michigan violated party rules.They both had chance to be the next
primary after New Hampshere.South Carolina won that,and they broke the rules.Not surprising Florida
did It since the Democratic Party In florida could be called Republican lite(Especilly letting the
Republican Legislate and Governor pick our primary there.Image them fighting for Al Gore back In
2000 as hard as them fighting to break the rules) Dean was 100 percent right on this.

[Hippo_Tron]

34. He will stay through the November election

I don't know where this stuff comes from that the party nominee can replace the chairman after the convention. They have to get elected president before they can do that.

[Cha]

37. Another reason for me to hope

hillary doesn't get anywhere near the white house again. Thanks, Robbien!

[Cha]

39. Yeah Dean's his own

guy and he's one of the good ones..that's what I like about 'im. :)

[MaineDem]

42. This will be his last year whether we win or not

If we win, the President will want input into the selection of Chair. If we lose, well, why should we keep him?

I have no idea on a replacement. That'll be interesting.

[Armstead]

36. Mark Penn

[Cha]

40. That's pretty

gross. :(

[Capn Sunshine]

41. A post from the loser wing of the Democratic Party

Yeah, we'll just dump that whole successful strategy implemented by Dean- the one that resulted in resounding victory in '06 because we were much happier losing for twelve straight years while the country descended into a train wreck.
Yeah. Those were the days.