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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWatching Howard Dean on MSNBC
As a former 2004 Deaniac, I'm amazed how this guy still cuts through the bull to make perfect sense.
I'm sorry he took himself out of the running for current DNC head, although I respect his reasoning that the party needs to be run by younger folks. Still, we Dems would greatly benefit from the leadership of the guy who first pushed the 50-state strategy and helped get Obama elected.
OnDoutside
(19,949 posts)JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)Someone who can speak to "kitchen table" concerns of voters and call BS on whoever deserves it.
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)it, but the so called unity tour was a disaster. And I have not seen a 50 state strategy unveiled which we need...we are a year out from the House elections which we must win if we are to stop Trump.
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)Here's a Dean stump speech from 2004. It's amazing how many of the issues in the time of GWBush are back again tenfold in the time of Trump. But Dean addresses them head on and inspires the crowd in a way I wish today's DNC leaders would.
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)murielm99
(30,724 posts)Deaniacs never became angry when they were called Deaniacs! They embraced the name and showed their enthusiasm with pride. No sensitive, whining little snowflakes there!
I was never one of them, but I loved their enthusiasm. Dean is wonderful. He continues to do great things for our party.
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)my heart out for Kerry. Of course we had the usual suspects- Greens -who gave Kerry a hard time whenever this group attacks Democrats they elect Republicans...kind of seems like that is their plan.
mahina
(17,637 posts)but watching him straight up steal Dean's message and lines was pretty disagreeable at the time.
I guess that's just the way the game is played. I wish very much that it wasn't so. I would have respected him more much earlier.
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)LisaM
(27,800 posts)was when I called someone a Deaniac! (apparently they'd made some rule about not doing that, which I missed), so my comment went pouf! I wasn't using it as an insult, but apparently some people had been.
All good, but it made me chuckle when I read your comment.
Lonestarblue
(9,958 posts)I canvassed for Dean in New Hampshire when he was running for president, so Im a long-time fan. I think he would do a far better job at the DNC than current leaders, but at least he appears on news programs often enough to present the facts and rebut Republican nonsense. He is also now working with Hillary Clintons Onward Together group.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)Almost brings tears to my eyes remembering his campaign...
I met him once. I have never been so impressed and so moved with live contact with any politician...
Well, there was one other...... Jesse.
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)...but our Dean for America Meetup Group had a "Flat Howard" life-size cardboard cutout of him that supporters would pose with for photos.
We fought the good fight!
pangaia
(24,324 posts)God, he is anything but flat, isn;t he...
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)DFW
(54,325 posts)"He's not a politician!"
I tried for ages to introduce them, and finally managed some 7 years ago, even posted about it at the time:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8841671
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)You should write a book (if you haven't already).
Thanks for posting the link.
DFW
(54,325 posts)I'll PM you with the link
pangaia
(24,324 posts)He is a human being trying to do something for others.
His profession, to try to accomplish that, is politics.
DFW
(54,325 posts)If I were 20 years younger............
Freedomofspeech
(4,223 posts)At the Democratic headquarters in Greensburg, PA.
Sucha NastyWoman
(2,742 posts)to campaign for him in 2003.
I still am not over the manner in which he was eliminated from the race for the horrendous act of an admittedly rather strange scream. It makes me ill that Trump got away with, and still gets away with what he does, while Dean was eliminated for such a trivial thing. I mostly blame the media, but I was also disappointed that Dean didn't seem to fight back, and just accepted it.
flyingfysh
(1,990 posts)The hall where Dean was was very noisy and enthusiastic. In context, if fit right in. The directional microphone didn't pick up all the other noise in the hall. Dean didn't do anything he shouldn't have.
mahina
(17,637 posts)It's years later but it matters just as much as it did then. The media did that to him.
Who exactly did it? And why? I would like to see a journalist make this a story, because it changed history.
I'm going to send it to Rachel, though with everything happening now, I don't expect she will have time.
Who else might?
Lisa0825
(14,487 posts)Sucha NastyWoman
(2,742 posts)criticism isn't well tolerated by some people here.
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)DK504
(3,847 posts)We desperately need the 50 state strategy.
mountain grammy
(26,605 posts)IronLionZion
(45,403 posts)deeply disappointing that some chose a more "punish the red state moderates" strategy.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)I would vote for him for anything tomorrow...
Sucha NastyWoman
(2,742 posts)lastlib
(23,191 posts)Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)time and money. We need moderates.
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)From Dean's Wiki page:
Dean's strategy used a post-Watergate model taken from the Republicans of the mid-seventies. Working at the local, state and national level, the GOP built the party from the ground up. Dean's plan was to seed the local level with young and committed candidates, building them into state candidates in future races. Dean traveled extensively throughout the country with the plan, including places like Utah, Mississippi, and Texas, states in which Republicans had dominated the political landscape. Many establishment Democrats were at least initially dubious about the strategy's worthpolitical consultant and former Bill Clinton advisor, Paul Begala, suggested that Dean's plan was "just hiring a bunch of staff people to wander around Utah and Mississippi and pick their nose."[61] Further changes were made in attempting to make the stated platform of the Democratic Party more coherent and compact. Overhauling the website, the official platform of the 2004 campaign, which was largely criticized as avoiding key issues and being the product of party insiders, was replaced with a simplified, though comprehensive categorizing of positions on a wide range of issues.
Dean's strategy arguably paid off in a historic victory as the Democrats took over control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2006 mid-term elections. While it is likely this is also attributable to the shortcomings of the Republican Party in their dealings with the Iraq War and the scandals that occurred shortly before the election, Dean's emphasis on connecting with socially conservative, economic moderates in Republican-dominated states appears to have made some impact. Indeed, Democratic candidates won elections in such red states as Kansas, Indiana, and Montana. And while former Clinton strategist James Carville criticized Dean's efforts, saying more seats could have been won with the traditional plan of piling money solely into close races, the results and the strategy were met with tremendous approval by the party's executive committee in its December 2006 meeting.[62] While he was chairman of the DCCC, Rahm Emanuel was known to have had disagreements over election strategy with Dean; Emanuel believed a more tactical approach, focusing attention on key districts, was necessary to ensure victory.[63] Emanuel himself was criticised for his failure to support some progressive candidates, as Dean advocated.[64]
The 50-state strategy relied on the idea that building the Democratic Party is at once an incremental election by election process as well as a long-term vision in party building. Democrats cannot compete in counties in which they do not field candidates. Therefore, candidate recruitment emerged as a component element of the 50-state strategy.
To build the party, the DNC under Dean worked in partnership with state Democratic parties in bringing the resources of the DNC to bear in electoral efforts, voter registration, candidate recruitment, and other interlocking component elements of party building. Decentralization was also a core component of the party's approach. The idea was that each state party had unique needs, but could improve upon its efforts through the distribution of resources from the national party.
The 50-state strategy was acknowledged by political commentators as an important factor in allowing Barack Obama to compete against John McCain in traditionally red states, during the 2008 presidential contest.[65][66] In 2008, Obama won several states that had previously been considered Republican strongholds, most notably Indiana, North Carolina, and Virginia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Dean#Fifty-state_strategy
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)appropriate to the state...and you begin at the grass root level...we can't do that for 18 but we could start.
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)However, it did give me an excuse to post that rather positive account of Dean's contributions to Obama's 2008 campaign.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)To paraphrase---
"..80% of the time for a politician is easy. We do what the voters who elected us tell us to do. We work for them. But 20% of the time we have to stand up for what we believe in and move people toward us and those things we know are right."
Right on the money...
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)don't you think we'd do it every single time? Kind of a no-brainer?
We may want answers simple enough to understand, or at least with a name easy to remember, and dependable enough to engender confidence and security, but those don'texist.
Btw, a great clue for sifting out people who shouldn't be trusted is to look for people promising easy answers to problems stated in terms any 10-year-old can understand, or at least short enough to easily remember.
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)A bit of history: There was a huge fight between Dean and Emanuel, who believed all available campaign funds should instead be focused on the safe-bet counties and states.
At the earliest opportunity, Emanuel and like-minded DLC types got Dean out of the DNC leadership post.
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/justin-coussoule-confirms-obamakaine
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Look, Dean's working on our side and that makes me his friend. But I'll remind you that he isn't extremely highly regarded by all who know him.
To leave complex stuff behind, and things that require delving into history books, and just go to the simple: He lies. Stupid, unnecessary lies. That's how he lost me back in the 2004 race. They just kept coming. It's a simple sift: Statements that on analysis are true, that can be considered mostly true or at least somewhat true even if not entirely in the aspects that are important to me, okay. Telling flat-out porkers, whoppers to the people? Forget it.
I don't care who they're meant to benefit, no politicians who use lying as a routine method of influencing people are the right stuff.
DFW
(54,325 posts)By the way, Rahm didn't "get" Howard out of the DNC post. Howard was always going to step down if he won the White House for the party. He said that when we have the White House, the president is the nominal head of the party, and therefore the party chairmanship diminishes greatly in stature and importance. He was counting on a cabinet post, hoping for HHS Secretary, but when Obama chose Rahm as White House Chief of Staff, it was pretty obvious that as revenge for the 50 state strategy (and, especially, since it turned out to be correct), Rahm was going to exercise his petty revenge convince Obama to exclude Howard from the Administration. So Howard did get shut out, and the country lost out on probably the best Health Secretary we ever would have had, but look today who is in world-wide demand for talks, advice, TV commentary and speeches. It's not Rahm Emmanuel.
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)And for the correction.
Yep, after Rahm's rotten performance as Chicago mayor and the demise of his beloved DLC, I doubt he would be in hot demand in DC.
By contrast, perhaps it's still possible for Dr. Dean to become a force within the DNC, especially after recent reports that party insiders are sorely disappointed in the performance of Tom Perez. We need someone who can serve up the red meat to the masses as well as Trump, only on behalf on Democratic Party ideals. I can't think of anyone better for the job than Howard Dean.
DFW
(54,325 posts)He's been in that limelight before, and he'd frankly find himself a hard act to follow. Besides, Judy already has had nearly 20 years of seeing him gone most every week, and now that they are grandparents, she'd probably veto another DNC gig. Howard was ALWAYS a family man first, and remains that way, no matter HOW he seems to be everywhere at once.
What he IS doing is working overtime to set up recruiting and training for younger Democratic candidates, and having the "old guard," to which he happily includes himself, remain in the background in an advisory capacity. He has some VERY high-powered company in these projects, so here's hoping that bears fruit.
As for the DNC, I just don't know what to tell you. There hasn't been anyone as engaged, as smart or as creative as Howard, and we'll have to resign ourselves to the fact that we were extremely fortunate to have him when we did, and that he had the freedom to run the show as he saw fit, because his vision has so far been the best of anyone in recent history, before or since.
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)a losing one was implemented.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Well, there's another hero blasted. But doesn't a determination to throw away a ***guaranteed wining strategy*** to lose PROVE the Russians must have been involved or that the Kochs must have purchased the entire Democratic Party leadership? Starting with Obama as its head, of course.
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)state strategy was genius, and I have no idea why we ended up withDNC leadership that abandoned it.
DFW
(54,325 posts)I posted about all this on this thread already. Please look at them so I don't have to repeat myself. Howard took himself out as DNC chair. Obama made a strategic decision to put Rahm Emmanuel in as White House Chief of Staff. Whatever perceived benefits Obama may have garnered from that move, it effectively ensured Howard would have no place in the Obama administration. I thought it was a shameful error. Howard refuse to get upset or depressed over it, saying Obama was the one elected, and it was his choice. He had his heart set on being HHS Secretary, and I think the country lost out BIG TIME when the post went to Sibelius instead. I also think that if Howard had enjoyed a successful tenure at that post, that he might well be president now (and Judy would probably have made him move the White House to Burlington--she was always a homebody, and the LAST thing she wanted was to become First Lady).
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)2010 was a blood bath.
DFW
(54,325 posts)Howard saw his staying on as a slap in the face to a newly elected Democratic president, and there was no way he was going to do that, no matter how badly he got treated by the incoming administration.
As for 2010, THAT was already being set in motion after the 2004 election. Cheney and Rove didn't need to have a PhD in statistical mathematics to see that the mess they created would lose them the Congress and the White House in 2008. A quick recovery under the rules in place meant they would have a hard time clawing their way back. I am convinced that Citizens United was in the works already after the 2004 election. Roberts and Alito were surely questioned in the Oval Office about their views on such a law before their names were even placed before the Judiciary Committee. Once confirmed, they only had to wait until Democratic complacency set in. Sure enough, after Obama's victory in 2008, articles appeared right and left about the demise of the Republican Party. Cheney, Rove, Roberts and Alito all knew about Citizens United and the change of election rules it would cause. As soon an Cheney had his two henchmen in place at the Supreme Court, the 2010 debacle was already halfway mission accomplished, and it was all the sweeter for them because we never saw it coming until it was far too late.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)I told part of this before but.. it is too wonderful not to repeat.
In 2008 I was newly married to a dear Chinese woman whom I had met in Qingdao. She had just been in the states about a year. She was born during the cultural revolution in a 'military commune,' in Ningxia near the border with Inner Mongolia. Her mother made all her clothes....the rest you can imagine.
We went to a fundraiser for Eric Massa who was running for Congress, and Dr. Dean was a speaker..Not a large group, less than 100 people. I had told my wife about Dean, how special he was. At the end of the speeches, many people gathered around him, shaking hands, small talking, etc. Finally we got up to him.
I introduced him to my wife and told him briefly about her. She told him she was honored to meet an American politician, and especially one who her husband thought was so special, and that in China that was impossible.
He started talking with her, asking her questions. He was totally 100% focused on her. One human being connecting with another. Others were waiting to meet him. But he stayed with her. The room became quiet as they talked. The media wanted pics, video, but he said, no. No pictures, no video.
They just talked, maybe 5-7 minutes! A long time. Finally he had to leave to catch a plane. HE thanked HER for taking the time to talk with him. She said she will "always remember meeting Dr. Dean, the American politician." They shook hands and she bowed to him. His 'entourage,' of about 3 people, left.
When my wife and I got outside, he was just about to get in his SUV. He saw us (her, really) and waved us over. He gave her a hug and whispered something in her ear. Then they left.
She never told me what he said.
OceanChick
(83 posts)Howard Dean is true American - we need him in front of the media every day.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)It is what a 'politician' should be.
Just a person, trying to help other human beings.
DFW
(54,325 posts)That is exactly the kind of person Howard is.
The year my Dad was president of the Gridiron Club in Washington, Hillary couldn't make the big dinner and show (that is when she left the "Hillary Gump" video). She had been slated to meet with Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan that weekend. So the Clinton White House arranged a 5 minute meeting with Hillary and my parents when she got back. Now, in all modesty, my parents were some kind of cool people, and so when their 5 minutes with Hillary at the White House were up, she instructed her staff to push everything back half an hour because she was "enjoying these people very much."
LakeArenal
(28,809 posts)and I am open to be corrected. But isn't he or wasn't he a lobbyist for the big pharmaceuticals?
No haters, please. It's just a question.
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)He's a consultant for Dentons, which, among other things, does lobbying work for Native American tribes, trade unions, local health care plans, climate-change orgs, and, yes, various industrial/corporate concerns.
Here's Dentons' page on Open Secrets. Judge for yourself.
https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmlbs.php?id=D000066633
LakeArenal
(28,809 posts)Seems I offended someone with my question.
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)That question almost always arises in a thread on Gov. Dean, but few ask it as courteously as you.
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)change that. I am sick of ideology before winning...check your purity...please. We need a win.
LakeArenal
(28,809 posts)Check your judgy judgerton... Don't fight battles you don't need to..
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)the 'corporate' Dem is a bad habit these days. We should work with everyone who can help us.
LakeArenal
(28,809 posts)Never heard that characterization before. I wasnt a fan of Howard Dean and asked a question. I have no negative feeling about him or any other corporate democrat or any Democrat for that matter. Geez
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)Howard Dean is a good guy and his secular job does not disqualify him from serving in the DNC...it may in fact give him additional insight. The idea that anyone works in business or supports business is 'corporate' is rampant around here.I don't get it, but then I feel people need jobs and believe this attitude will hurt us. I really must ask some what jobs are acceptable these days for progressives. I suppose Wall Street is out...ah well a discussion for another day.
LakeArenal
(28,809 posts)I dont live on DU. I dont read every thread that comes on here. Especially every political story about politicians I didnt particularly support.
Dont you tell me what I know about Howard Dean or anybody else.
To me you are a textbook hater and troll.
I asked a question and someone kindly answered it for me. But you have some ant in your pants about someone who isnt quite up to your political savy asking one question.
Take your bullying elsewhere.
FYI. I thought at the time Dean got a bad rap. But I hadnt decided anything before he was driven out.
I leave to you the last insulting word. Seeing how you are I am sure you have some nice insult all ready. Take it then leave me alone as I am done explaining anything to a bully troll.
Demsrule86
(68,539 posts)I have no insult as I don't call fellow DUer's names. Calling Dean and others establishment or corporate is quite a common insult around here. He is not such thing. Bye Bye.
DFW
(54,325 posts)In February 2009, when it looked like Rahm Emmanuel was going to get his revenge on Howard for being right about the 50 state strategy in 2006, and exclude Howard from the Obama administration, I asked him what he would do then. He had already said that when the Party held the White House, the President was the Party head, not the DNC chair, and so he was stepping down to let Obama take the reins. Howard said that if he got shut out of the government (which he was), that he would "join and lend his name to some firm for steady income and then raise hell for causes he believed in." True to his word--and when was he ever not?--that is exactly what he has been doing ever since.
Howard will be 69 next month. He still has boundless energy, but he is firmly of the opinion that younger blood needs to take over the Party leadership. This does NOT mean that people like himself or Hillary will fade. Not in the slightest--they intend to be around for advice and learn-the-ropes instruction, but he wants a new generation to step up and and be the the leaders of the future.
LakeArenal
(28,809 posts)Much more informative and than some. Never liked Emmanuel all that much. And what he's done in Chicago is awful. Don't have much background on Dean. Thought he got a raw deal considering "energy" is exactly what the party needs. But never got far enough in my fact gathering before the GOP faked the crazy story and he dropped out.
Just for all the ageists out there: My dad lived to be 93.. His mind was sharp, he handled his own financial decisions and new what was going on in the world.. 69 years old is nothing. Hillary's age means nothing. Even Bernie's age is meaningless. Not just because they all aren't running for anything but they still have lots of great stuff to give us.
I am all for a young candidate. But a wise thoughtful V.P. is a great option. Or a member of the cabinet. That's one thing I truly regret (among the million other things) is who Hillary might have put in her Cabinet.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)delisen
(6,042 posts)maddiemom
(5,106 posts)sabotaging Dean.
Justice
(7,185 posts)democrank
(11,092 posts)I respect him for many reasons, most recently his fierce support for bringing fresh, new voices into the party.
Dean is not afraid of "The Machine", not afraid of thinking outside the box, not a fraud of shaking things up. He's smart enough to know the sea of red on the electoral college map, combined with the 1,000 state and federal seats we've lost over the last dozen years requires nothing less than a 50-state strategy.
Howard Dean says what he means and means what he says.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)and more +++++++++
He has no fear at all.....
mahina
(17,637 posts)His on-air assassination was a then-lowpoint for the US media. We lost so much.
He cuts right through the fog like nobody, and that's the skill needed now.
I still think the 50 state strategy is a big part of why we prevailed for President Obama's election.
madokie
(51,076 posts)I still would vote for Howard in a heartbeat.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)I would vote for him even faster...
Tatiana
(14,167 posts)We need experience and proven leadership. Dean has proved he knows how to win. We need him.
DFW
(54,325 posts)When he was DNC chair, he was working 8 days a week, and Judy wasn't happy. Now that he's a grandfather with much of the family back home in Burlington, at age 69, he is not going to take up the post again. I had breakfast with him 11 days ago, so you can take that as rather fresh news. He's involved with a dozen different things already, anyhow.
R B Garr
(16,950 posts)ReformedGOPer
(478 posts)deal with that "scream".