Howard's real coup

[kpete]

Howard's real coup
by Granny Doc
Sat Feb 09, 2008 at 07:34:27 PM PS

Thanks Mr. Dean!

We not only have a 50 State Strategy, but we have a primary and caucus schedule that is giving everybody a chance to feel that they are participating in the process.

It doesn't please the Pundit Class, but damn, it sure seems to be pleasing the electorate.

Thank you Mr. Dean. Well done! You have opened up and energized the process, just as you promised. And, when our candidate is finally selected, it will be the result of the entire nation voting, not the the outcome decided by the press, or the talking head. Real voters, voting! Imagine that!!!

more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/9/222521/4066/933/453668

[Crabby Appleton]

1. Where's the sarc tag?

MI & FL Dems might disagree.

[chimpymustgo]

5. Sorry. They broke the rules. Dean has done a great job, and deserves our support.

nt

[wellstone dem]

6. That wasn't Dean's fault, they didn't follow the rules

If they had, they would be in the midst of this, more important than ever.

[fuzzy otter pop]

10. this is very true

turns out the week after super t

was hot hot hot

and

MI and FL

are

NOT NOT NOT

[Adelante]

2. Well done, Howard Dean

Democracy got in the way thanks to you.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

3. K&R

[JVS]

4. Thanks Howard. And remember, fuck FL and MI, they knew their sham-elections wouldn't count and...

went ahead and did them anyway. Don't budge for those grandstanding buffoons.

[fuzzy otter pop]

11. if they had waited till this tuesday they would be huge!!!

it is not Mr. Deans fault
they are dummies

[bklyncowgirl]

7. 50 State Primary--It's a hit with the voters

As I said in another thread, we're giving them the first viable woman candidate, the queen of bread and butter issues or the first viable African-American candidate, a silver tongued inspriational speaker who promises sweeping change. They're giving them warmed over McCain with a side of Huckleberries.

If you're an independant voter, who you gonna love!

[elizm]

8. You have a way with words! :) nt

[bklyncowgirl]

9. Why thanks, I used that line in an original post that sank faster than Giuliani's campaign polls.

I had to get it in somewhere.

[mzmolly]

16. LOL

Nicely put!

[madfloridian]

12. Thanks for posting this. Did you see the recs at Daily Kos?

I see only 3 here at DU. I just gave it a fourth. What is the difference there and here? Of course we all know that coming into play in all these huge numbers is the fact that there are Democratic political directors in all 50 states.

It is not all of it, but it is huge part of it.

Thanks Howard Dean for the structural rebuilding of our party throughout the country.

[Drunken Irishman]

13. I still love Dr. Dean!

[realFedUp]

14. He should get more credit for this and the delegate representation

although I am not loving the caucuses.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

15. Someone who could have slunk away and made money on his name, yet he decided to try to change the

process, which previously disenfranchised large numbers of seasoned and supportive Democrats.

And, as he's gotten to work on those changes, he's figured out a way to deal with Rovian dirty tricks vis a vis MI and FL, all the while ensuring that the candidates get lots of exposure and, most importantly, that the Democratic voters really got their say in more than two or three states.

He seems to be a meticulous planner combined with thinking quickly on his feet.

I'm glad he stayed around. :-)

[karynnj]

17. This year's scedule is ridiculous

They should have negotiated a deal on MI and Fl. In addition, Supertuesday was an attempt to prevent anyone from beating HRC - who had the biggest name recognition and the most people who really knew her. It is only because of the incredible race Obama has run that the race isn't over.

Now the threat that super delegates can decide the race and the mess of FL and MI can create a nightmare. I don't blame Dean, but I certainly don't credit him with this schedule either. The fact that more states will get a say is more due to the fact that there were 2 very competitive candidates. In 1992, almost all the states got a say as well because Clinton couldn't clinch until June. It is only in the last 2 elections that it was decided early - mainly because Gore, never had much competition from my former Senator, Bradley and because Kerry was the clear favorite from Iowa on in a nearly flawless win of the nomination. (Look at yesterday's Republican vote - after McCain was deemed the likely nominee, Huckabee won 2 of the 3 states and pundits spoke of the fact that it would be better not to have this extend into June. )

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

18. So much better under McAuliffe, then?

:shrug:

[karynnj]

21. Of course not - McAuliffe was corrupt and let the parties fall apart

I think the 50 state effort was fanatastic and Dean deserves all the credit in the world for re-vitalizing (or I guess "vitalizing" where they were dead.)the state parties.

What I thought was bad was:
- This year's schedule which was a mess. I don't think Edwards would have won, but lumping 21 states together meant he had no chance after SC. The slower pace allows candidates to take the lead and fade if they are not good. 2000, where Gore had the gratitude of many for his job of VP and 2004 where Kerry never faltered were exceptions. Clinton took until June and Dukakis, though earlier was not that early.

- That a solution was not worked out to MI and FL. They likely thought it wouldn't matter because a winner would come out of Super Tuesday. I hope that either Clinton wins or Obama does with a margin of victory greater than the net FL votes to Clinton - and the superdelegates go to the winner. Otherwise this year will be a disaster.

[madfloridian]

20. You can not negotiate with bullies. You simply can not.

Dean will most likely let the rules committee enforce the rules.

FL and MI have been horses asses.

[AtomicKitten]

19. Dean's creed has always been "yes, we can!" 50 states - one by one.