Why are state party infrastructures all over US stronger now than in 2000, 2002, 2004?

[blm]

Because Howard Dean, the Chairman of the DNC and some determined lawmakers who support him, have made it a priority to rebuild the party infrastructures in states that had seen their party infrastructures weaken and collapse under the stewardship of those past chairs who refused to offer support, guidance or money to states they where they actually had to WORK to maintain a presence.

Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and western states like Colorado, Nevada, and others were ignored for over a decade. The GOP had free reign to gain near control of the election process at every level where the votes are allowed, cast and counted - - and they took every advantage to outmuscle the Dem party in those states and others - and did so for YEARS.

Do people really have to wonder what the difference is?

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

1. Oh, they're well aware what the difference is.

And they don't like it. The entire purpose of the DLC from day one has been to neuter the Democratic Party from within. And they (unfortunately) have done a stellar job of it. They have attacked Howard Dean non stop since the day he launched his campaign in 2003, and they continue to do so, now using this "PUMA" bullshit as a cover.

[napi21]

2. Well, I KNOW it was Howard Dean who rejuvinated the Dem Party

in Ga! I soike to a phone volunteer last week and explained how HAPPY i was to finally see some Dems actually running for office here! I moved to Ga. in 2000, and I was constantly shocked when I went to the polls only to find almost EVERY local spot had a Pub running unopposed!

I don't know how close we'll get, even in the 08 election, to getting some Dems elected, but damn it! You can't possibly even have a chance if you don't at least have a candidate!!!!

Howard's been here several times, and I credit HIM and his team for rebuilding the Dems in Ga.

[blm]

9. Same here in NC. Our major city here had an office in back of a flower shop, fer chrissakes, and

ancient donated computers that hindered more than helped. It was awful. When I was in SC the entire county had NO OFFICE whatsoever.

THAT was how the Clinton-McAuliffe leadership of the party chose to exercise their stewardship - collapsing party infrastructures in states they gave up on after the 94 election.

Thank undergod Dean and likeminded Dem leaders wrested control of the party infrastructure from the Clintonites in early 2005.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Howard Dean.

[eshfemme]

4. This is why the PUMAs efforts to unfairly rip into Dean is so frustrating.

He probably did more to actually make the primaries so worthwhile and to make each vote count and instead of being thanked for it, he's blamed for all the deficiencies caused by the people who refused to believe in his 50 State strategy (i.e. the old guard of the Democratic party). Basically the PUMAs are protesting the results of a primary that was fucked up mainly through their and their advocates' efforts.

[blm]

11. The Clintonites KNOW Dean's efforts to rebuild the party in many states showed up THEIR inattention

and basic disregard for those states and all the Dem candidates and voters whose votes were lost and stolen because of a decade of disregard by the Clinton devotees overseeing the atrophy.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Dean started it, community-organizer Obama took it to a higher level...

And continues to improve it daily, like with his text-message-when-he-makes-VP-decision feature.

[Arctic Dave]

6. If it wasn't for Dean's strategy Alaska would

still be a repug stronghold, now they are running scared.

[blm]

7. Exactly - Dem wins BEGIN with a strong party infrastructure. Fer chrissakes, it's a four year job

that has to show progress every day of those four years, and some Dems still think elections are won by the name at the top of the ticket - a name only known 5-6 months before the election - and that the nominee is in fact the person in charge of securing the election process state by state.

[AtomicKitten]

8. I am thrilled Obama kept Dean on as DNC Chair.

Rumor has it Ickes coveted the position.

[MaineDem]

12. The post is up in January

I bet there'll be a change then.

[Occam Bandage]

10. It was all Dean. I hope his successor follows his 50-state strategy.

[MaineDem]

13. Obama has said he will continue the 50-state strategy

It was an agreement he made with the state party chairs. TO be honest, Clinton agreed to it too.