Howard Dean: 'Big Night' For Progressives - "who really want Washington to be a change agent"

[jefferson_dem]

Howard Dean Tells TPMDC: 'Big Night' For Progressives
Christina Bellantoni | May 19, 2010, 2:30AM

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said in an interview that Tuesday's elections look like a "pretty big sweep" for progressives. "They are having a big night," he said.

"My belief is that progressive Dems are a lot more appealing to mainstream voters than tea party advocates," Dean told me in an interview just after Rep. Joe Sestak was declared the winner over Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary.

"This is a big night for people who really want Washington to be a change agent," Dean said, adding the results show a "backlash" against both parties in official Washington. Dean, also former governor of Vermont and a 2004 presidential candidate, said he views Jack Conway as the progressive choice in Kentucky and said Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's forcing of a runoff in Arkansas proves that candidates on the left can prevail.

At the same time, Dean thinks Sestak is a Democrat in the mold of Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) -- a centrist who was elected in 2006 in part thanks to online progressives supporting and funding his candidacy until it attracted national attention. "New progressives are the old centrists. Conway and Sestak will be pretty damn appealing to the middle of the road," Dean said. "Joe is a bit of an iconoclast and that's what you want in a race like this. Joe is a centrist with conviction politics."

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/howard-dean-tells-tpmdc-big-night-for-progressives.php?ref=fpblg

[Bitwit1234]

1. I will tell you the main reason Specter lost

First no matter how you look at it he was a republican and will always be a republican. We Democrats have had enough of the blue dogs and we did not want a republican. Now that we had a chance to put a Democrat in, we did. And he is 80 years old. He should retire any way.

And a conservative district in PA voted for a Democrat instead of the Republican to fill Murtha's seat. So why isn't that the big thing. Morning Joe is making a big deal out of Specter loosing. They say it is an indictment on President Obama. WHAT THE HELL. A republican, and to the voters Specter will always be a republican, lost to a democrat and the make a big deal out of it.

AND more Democratic voters turned out in KY to vote than republicans. KY is a republican state. Where were the republicans. If they had showed up to vote Paul wouldn't have won. They are making a big deal out of him winning with less votes than the Democrats. You can just watch the news and see how biased they are. They are supposed to be independent but they are all republican all the time.

[AndyA]

4. The M$M is really disgusting.

They are tilted so far to the right I'm surprised they don't topple over! I thought the Democratic voter turn out in Kentucky was a big deal, but apparently that isn't the word that's come down from the corporate masters.

[Yavin4]

10. Morning Joe Is Deeply Envious of Obama

They're around the same age, and Joe thought that he'd be in the WH by now, esp. coming from a huge swing state like FL.

He's an embittered man.

[roguevalley]

13. being told to vote for a repub/dem didn't help either. they can tell

which one they want but we don't have to give them that one.

[SpiralHawk]

2. "Whine." - Republicon FAIL Artistes

"I want America to fail." - Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh (R - propagandist)

[tavalon]

3. Howard Dean should be chief of staff

We need to get rid of the DLCers in the White House.

[democrank]

5. There you go again, Howard.

Throwing around all that foolish insight and integrity.

[zipplewrath]

6. Howard may be right., but....

But it will all be meaningless if "we" don't win in November.

So if, like myself, you've been jonesing to move this administration to the left, now is the time to endure the pain. Get out the debit card, log into a few of these primary "wins" and start donating, along with a comment that you are a progressive and mentioning some specific issues.

Sestak needs to "hear" from us this week.

Halter needs our help, NOW.

We have a shot in Kentucky that could be "heard round the world". A loss there could put McConnell out of a job.

The more these victories are connected with progressives, the more Dean and other progressives stock will rise. The DLC and Rahm's will go down. And some Congress critters might get a clue too.

[ProSense]

7. "Dean thinks Sestak is a Democrat in the mold of Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) -- a centrist"

Yes, big night for progressives.

"New progressives are the old centrists. Conway and Sestak will be pretty damn appealing to the middle of the road"

What Dean is doing is redefining moderate Dems as progressives.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Well that's better than redefining Republican Arlen as

a Democrat, no doubt about it. What Dean is saying is that Tim Kaine is a lousy chairman. And that is as true as true can be. A lousy, bigoted, right leaning, chairman.

[ProSense]

9. Redefining Specter as a Dem.

helped to pass health care reform and the stimulus, both supported by Sestak.

Now it's time to move on.

[freddie mertz]

11. Of course it was.

Thanks Howard.

[Clio the Leo]

12. EXCEPT for Critz....

.... who campaigned against Pelosi and against "Obamacare." (but hey, if he beat a Republican, whatever works.) that's the beauty of last night ... EVERYONE (except the establishment GOP) has something to brag about.

[Cha]

17. Sestak is for us being in Afghanistan with the Troop increase.

http://washingtonindependent.com/69206/rep-joe-sestak-on-the-afghanistan-war-pakistan-and-the-troop-increase

[Sebastian Doyle]

14. K&R for Howard Dean

The only LEADER this party has seen in the past decade. :patriot: :kick:

[Number23]

15. So centrists are the new progressives now?

Thanks for that, Howard! You're as clear as mud but I still like you anyway...

[Duppers]

16. Howard's the man!

nt