Now Playing: 'Anybody But Dean, Part 2' - Newsweek (Fineman)

[HR_Pufnstuf]

Now Playing: 'Anybody But Dean, Part 2'

While the GOP danced, the Dems once again found themselves looking for a leader who's not from Vermont.

Fear and loathing: Will Dean be stopped?

Jan. 31 issue - Within hours of George Bush's Inauguration, everyone was playing his assigned role. Republicans, happily united, were dancing the night away at glittering balls in downtown Washington. Democrats, meanwhile, divided into familiar warring camps: for and against Howard Dean. In Burlington, Vt., Dean and hundreds of fans gathered for an "un-Inauguration"—and in support of the former governor's quest to become the new chairman of the Democratic Party. In Georgetown that same evening, hordes of insiders partied at the stately home of Mark Penn, the Clinton family pollster, where they gripped and grinned with Bill and Hill, cheered each other up—and fretted about Dean's assault on party headquarters. "There was a ton of positive energy at the house," a guest said later, "except for the fear and loathing of Dean."

Read full:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6857146/site/newsweek/

[BayCityProgressive]

1. I really hope the Clinton's

lose their grip on the DNC. Their policies have not helped us win ANY elections.

[BornaDem]

11. I hope so too. I worry what...

the Clintons and their supporters will do if Dean somehow succeeds in being elected. Big contributors are already threatening to shut off all money if he is elected. I wonder what else they would do to destroy the party if they can't run it. I hope it's only threats and they would get behind him if he won, but I worry what they might do.

[blm]

2. I support Dean for DNC chair. It's not Dean who is dividing the party,

now. He is, in fact, quite moderate and centrist in his own politics and now has an effective appeal to many on the left. I think many Democrats are pissed off at Dean's supporters who keep attacking other Democrats as if they don't belong in the party and should be run out on a rail.

That tactic is NOT helpful to Dean. He will likely win as chair and if he is to SUCCEED at uniting all factions of the party, his more virulent supporters have to STOP attacking them.

[OKNancy]

6. Hi blm

I know. It gets me how Dean is painted as a raging liberal. To me Dean is the real uniter, not divider. I'm sure you are aware that out in the real world, Dean's supporters aren't bashing other Democrats. I think he will do a great job of uniting and I don't let hotheads on the internet mess with what I think of him.

[cali]

7. You repeatedly assert this to be true

Please provide some proof the Dean supporters are running around alienating other dems. Yes, there are a few here at DU who go over the top. Same can be said of devotees of other dems. Again, you have made this assertion without proof or even anecdotal evidence. I wish you'd stop. And yes, I know you say you're supporting Dean, but you're relentless attacks on his supporters, something for which there is much evidence, gets wearisome.

[blm]

8. It's in response to what is posted here at DU.

Many of who also say they send emails to the national or state DNC repeating what they post here.

My thoughts on SOME of his supporters who are actively employing this tactic are NOT attacks as I am NOT using virulent language or ad hominem. I am urging they STOP attacking other Democrats.

I am making a clear observation of why other Democrats and Democratic leaders are misconstruing Dean's effect on the party. If those observations and my use of polite language is wearisome to you, then so be it.

I say what I say, unmotivated by concern for popularity.

[cali]

10. Observations by one person

of posters on DU are meaningless. And your lecturing tone and use of caps are not particularly polite. Many, many Dean supporters, including myself, have not attacked other dems.

[blm]

12. old school emphasis with caps is not an indication of attack.

And YES, of course, it's my observation. If anyone understands that some Dean supporters go over the top in attacking anyone they perceive to be in their way, it's me.

Some Dean supporters acknowledged that they went too far during the primaries and apologized in private messages. I am only urging that those who think it's a good tactic to continue using virulence should reconsider. I don't think it helps Dean, but instead hurts him, and I doubt I am the only one who feels that way.

If you know that YOU don't attack other Dems, then why take my post personally? Those who do know who they are.

[dsc]

14. Clinton holds a meeting at his house to starve the party if it dares pick

Dean and it is Dean's supporters who are divisive?

[blm]

15. Nope, they are wrong, too. But, how did many Dems get the impression

that Dean would divide the party? I submit it comes from the harsher rhetoric of some of Dean's followers who accuse anyone who they perceive to be in their way of not being a real Democrat. No different than the way that idiot Al From does. It's destructive and dumb. It's no smarter when it comes from the left.

I say this because I WANT Dean to succeed and be the DNC chair. He has the most awareness, so far, of the two issues that i see are the greatest impediments to democracy, GOP control of the media and the voting machines. If he makes those issues a priority then the GOP will finally be exposed and the American people can learn that the Democrats' policy positions will make for a stronger country with better governance.

[dsc]

16. The fact is we aren't doing it this time

I have seen Roemer and Frost attacked. Romer by NARAL for his pro life views and Frost in the blogosphere for his ad campaign to save his seat. While I agree with neither one there is no evidence that either one of these attacks are originating with Dean supporters or are mostly confined to them.

[StClone]

3. I WANT Dean

He will take a route other than ignoring the Red Staters.

[Tamyrlin79]

4. Oh Please. They've all had a pass for too long.

If they can't take the criticism and internal heat, they probably shouldn't be politicians, but they certainly should not be Democrats. It's the Republicans who don't believe accountability also applies to their own members.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

5. Earth to DNC...THE REPUKES ARE SCARED SHITLESS OF DEAN!

Why do you think Rove came out early during the Dem. Presidential Primaries to "support" Dean?

Why do you think the Repuke-lite Dems don't want him?

Why do you think the corporate led media is working hard to smear Dean?

...the answer...

THEY KNOW WHAT MANY DEMS FAIL TO RECOGNIZE. DEAN is the ONLY saving grace of a party that is quickly falling into obscurity.

JB

[newblewtoo]

13. You are correct...

Given a chance he might surprise a few folk in '06. Popularism is infectious.

[radio4progressives]

9. The DP Power Elite Will Not Yield Power to Grassroots

The Clintonistas, the Kerry Camp, the Right Wing of the DP, the so called "New Democrat Network" (read Neo Libs - who are all on board and united with the Neo Fascists aka "Neo Cons") who are working feverishly to marginalize Dean in every way possible in order to put their man, Simon Rosenberg (pro-war in Iraq, Iran, Syria etc)in as chair.

They may succeed. The Neo-Libs have their hit squad all over the internet and the media (radio, TV, Cable)to pull this off and as evidenced in the past two weeks, they will NOT waver.

There will be no boundaries or limitations on how far they will go to silence Howard Dean and dis empower the Progressives and traditional Liberals of the party.

If the PDA (Progressive Democrats of America) does not organize effectively with DFA against the elite power structure of the professional election losers, the DP will further fuel and embolden the new fascists state which is now what we have ruling America.

It's time for the underground resistance to rise against the machinations of the Clintonistas and the rest of these fascists Bush Crime Family boot lickers and send them packing.

Now.

[eg101]

18. they are afraid of Dean because he is associated with gay marriage

You know, he signed the gay marriage law in VT!? Most Americans don't really like gay marriage.

And outside of that, and the Iraq war, Dean is NOT liberal. He is conservative!
See here:
http://www.sf.indymedia.org/news/2003/12/1668089.php

Just signing a gay marriage bill and being against the war don't make you a "liberal". Especially not when you have a long record of being a Gingrich clone on economics issues!

[eg101]

17. socially progressive and fiscally "conservative" ((wink wink nudge nudge))

Boy, the media just loves these 2 faced social progressives--just so long as they are "fiscal conservatives" (fiscal conservative meaning some pro-business, pro-yuppie, pro-business DINO).

From the article:


"Then, as now, Dean inspired an outside-the-Beltway, Net-based crusade whose shock troops adored his social progressivism and his fearless opposition to war in Iraq.



And of course when it comes to cutting taxes, raising the Social Security retirement age, and other welfare state programs, Dean is of the Reagan-Gingrich school of politician. Hence, Dean's media darling status.

Yeah, Dean is JUST to the left of Reagan, when it comes to economics:
http://www.sf.indymedia.org/news/2003/12/1668089.php

Get a load of how the media transforms Rightwing DINOs into liberals:

For now, the front-running alternative is former congressman Martin Frost of Texas, a pro-labor moderate with a lifetime of traditional organizing who survived 13 terms in Dallas before the GOP redistricted him into oblivion.

I have already posted links about how this turkey has called for moving the party to the right....