Howard Dean slams Democrats: 'Where the hell is the Democratic Party'

[egbertowillies]

Chuck Todd mentioned Dan Balz's Washington Post piece about the hallowing of the Democratic Party. He concentrated mostly on the weakening of the states' Democratic Parties. Howard Dean pretty much gets it right about national guidance and money with local control. This would ensure necessary regional issues are addressed.

The most important passage in the Dan Balz piece however is what a Hillary Clinton coronation will do to the Democratic Party with respect to fresh blood and grooming progressives.

Presidential campaigns and open nomination contests help bring new leaders to national prominence. That appears unlikely in 2016. For all her positive attributes, former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton is a suffocating presence when it comes to intraparty presidential competition. Her command of the Democratic machinery, from fundraising to grass-roots organizing, is so extensive that almost everyone else is understandably intimidated about even testing their talents against her.

Think of it this way: If Clinton were to win the presidency and serve two terms, the next opportunity for a new generation of Democrats to compete nationally would not come until 2024. The Democrats could go 16 years between competitive presidential nomination contests, wiping out opportunities for today’s younger generation to define or redefine the party apart from either the Obama or Clinton eras.

Forget the substance of candidates for a bit. It is evident that it is only one factor voters consider if they consider it at all. Jon Stewart did a skit that one should note. He showed what the winners in many of the Republican races looked like. It looked like the embodiment of what Democrats promote in words.

Howard Dean post mortem is mostly right. His acceptance of an implicit coronation of Hillary Clinton is however problematic and could be perilous for the Democratic Party in the long term. It is important for the primary process to work.
http://egbertowillies.com/2014/11/09/watch-howard-dean-slam-democrats-hell-democratic-party-video/

[Mass]

1. Could not agree more.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. There we have it!

[C_U_L8R]

3. Agree.

But where was Howard during campaign season?

[sulphurdunn]

11. It's unlikely he ever got

an invitation to the party. Now that the election is over, it's OK to talk about why the democrats did another shuffle to the right, self-implosion boogie trying to convince republican voters that they were really republicans too.

[freshwest]

4. Glad to hear from Dean on this! Thanks!

[SHRED]

5. and at the end when asked if he will run he says. ..

..."no I'm supporting Hillary Clinton".

Really Howard? Wow.

[INdemo]

10. Well thats fine but as good as he was at the DNC I think

REAL Democrats will have a say in the primaries.
He talked about how weak our State Party organizations are and wow is that ever true. In Red States like Indiana what we have is just a token State Party with the Party Leaders no where to be found when it comes to supporting our candidates.
I think in 2006 Democrats held 6 of 9 congressional Districts and we could have won one more (3rd district) but there was no state party to support our candidate.
..Now I think we have Democratic Congressmen in (2) districts out of 9.
That is unacceptable

[mommymarine2003]

6. Being a Democrat should be worn with a badge of honor

It seemed that many of the Democratic candidates were always trying to prove they were just like Republicans, especially Allison Grimes posing with her gun. We are supposed to be impressed that she can hunt and kill creatures just like Republicans do? If I was a Kentucky Democrat, it would have been really difficult for me to vote for her. All the candidates who turned their backs on Obama made me lose any respect for them. We need to quit trying to be Republicans. Their policies are horrible. We should be proud to be Democrats who stand for social and environmental issues. My attitude is how could anyone want to be Republican, which to me is the party of hate and greed.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

13. This is one of the most perplexing things about modern day Democratic campaigns

There is NOTHING to be ashamed about being a Democrat. If anybody deserves to be embarrassed, it should be Republicans, but they go out there election after election and act crazy, say crazy things, and lie their butts- but yet they still win, especially when our people don't get out and vote- mostly during the midterms. It seems to be that we should really have nothing to worry about by calling ourselves Democrats and being the smart and responsible ones whose party has a rich legacy of accomplishments and includes several notable members. Instead, most Democrats, particularly in the South, act like they should be treated as though they're carrying Leprosy (or Ebola) by saying that they're Democrats or that they (gasp!) voted for a Democrat for POTUS. As Bill Maher put it, Democrats gave people health care, NOT herpes!

[libman100]

14. Dems better wake up

It's not that blue dog dems are ashamed to be a democrat it's just that they are AFRAID to be a true democrat. To be a democrat mean to stand up to powerful interest group. Well most of these dems are getting most of their campaign money from these same folks so of course they are going to be timid.

But until they do they will continue to lose elections. A lot of folks who are democrats to the bones aren't going to come out to the polls for democrats running as republican lite candidates.

[silvershadow]

7. Can we bring him back now, please? nt

[ReRe]

8. Problematic, for sure Howard

That last paragraph (if you're reading nothing but the print alone) says it all.

[blkmusclmachine]

9. Where is the DEM Party? Busy cashing the 1%'s pay-offs/paychecks, for an Election "well done."

[trueblue2007]

12. WE NEED HOWARD DEAN NOW!!! BRING HIM BACK.