DNC: "How to stop Howard Dean, Part Two."

[pa28]

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/FrontPage/120804/dean.html

"The race to be the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee is shaping up as a retread of January’s Iowa caucuses, with former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean emerging as the early front-runner and the Democratic establishment furiously scrambling for a candidate to beat him . . ."

As I always mention. I did not support Dean in the primaries but I believe he is tailor-made for party chair. Insiders have fared poorly for Democrats while Republicans choose activists for this position and it pays big dividends. Tough times are coming and based on his past performance I think Howard can frame a cohesive opposition message. We might actually (gasp) win.

[Seldona]

1. After reading an article last week

about how the DNC wants to move to the RIGHT, I sincerly hope he does win.

The DNC is ineffective, at best.

Time for someone with some fire in his belly.

And I did not support him in the primaries either.

[Quetzal]

2. Just a question to those in this thread

If not Dean, would Simon Rosenburg be an acceptable choice?

[Old and In the Way]

5. Who's Simon Rosenberg?

No offense, but I think we need someone who understands, firsthand, electoral politics. There are lots of capable people....but I think we need someone who can shake things up. Dean would be the guy.

And I was a Kerry guy in the primaries....

[Doomsayer13]

8. Simon Rosenberg

former head of the New Democrat Network. Before you start vomiting, know that he's also pretty popular among Deanies and progressive circles. Stresses the need for the Democrats to have vision and message - is against business as usual. He has a very successful record in reaching out to Latino voters as head of NDN.

Read this tounge-in-cheek piece on DailyKos for more info.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/11/192758/09

And this piece is good too

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/6/112326/490

[K-W]

12. I think everyone in politics understands electoral politics first hand

That isnt the most unique thing on Deans resume.

[Old and In the Way]

22. Has Rosenberg run for office?

Has he been elected and actually governed? I have no doubts that he would be capable and understand politics....but I think it'ss time to select someone with a resume other than the fact that he can raise money. Dean proved that a populist message can energize and make people open their wallets. Raising money is important, but getting a rassroots organization that's motivated and willing to work for change is more important, IMHO. Dean has it...does Rosenberg? I don't know.

[madfloridian]

16. Rosenberg and NDN rose out of DLC...still linked to site.

I hear Rosenberg and From have disagreed on things, but I don't know how much Rosenberg still is tied to the group. It is a matter of trusting how much From and Rosenberg have distanced, I guess. Rosenberg stood up for Dean for a while, but then he decided Dean was criticizing Democrats too much. So I am not sure where he stands now.

I gather he is more open to change than From, but that is a guess.. I just don't know.

Considering how the DLC has managed to convince everyone that Dean and his supporters are fringe folks.....it is hard to know reality anymore.

[Stinky The Clown]

23. If the DLC is Repub LIte, then isn't Rosenburg DLC Lite?

I want a smart, energized, charismatic, household name, attack dog who gets it.

I think that would be Howard Dean.

[Old and In the Way]

3. I agree as well.

His campaign pioneered using the internet for fundraising and organizing. He's understands the needs of the candidates and he's proven his ability to govern. He has passion and a loyal and energized following that provide much needed grassroots activism.

He'd be an outstanding chair of the DNC....a real outsider that'll lead the fight into the 2006 midterms.

[Khephra]

4. Here's the whole problem with establishment Democrats in a nutshell

A popular candidate pops up that the establishment isn't comfortable with and, instead of letting the people speak, the fucking establishment Democrats set out to defeat the popular movement.

Popularity in politics brings votes. It's not who is more comfortable with industry PACs and conservative voters. When in the hell did this party forget that?

[ragin_acadian]

9. that's a big ten-four

here's a good establishment democrat for you:

lloyd bentson

naw...he wasn't part of an existing texas (masonic,maybe) power structure connected to shrub sr. that built the currently used mold employed to manufacture consent against massachusetts libruls.

he was just the texas running mate of that dukakis fella.

[barbaraann]

10. The establishment Dems destroyed Carter's Presidency.

...
Therefore, the first man since Andrew Jackson who appeared to have been elected solely by winning the favor of "the people" must also be made to appear completely ineffectual. "The people" must accede to their betters and allow experts to choose the so-called leaders of free Americans. And to win back that privilege, party oligarchs set out to make "the people" despise the man they had chosen.
...

http://www.thornwalker.com/ditch/anyday_2.htm

[DFLforever]

6. I hope Dean stays a mile away from the DNC chair

It's going to take a revolution to shake up these people. Defeat after defeat means nothing to them: their privileges and perks go on as usual.

Maybe next time they call an election, no one will vote.

[bemildred]

11. I agree. He is more useful on the outside with a free hand. nt

[madfloridian]

21. I agree, but I hear he may want it.

Oh, well.

[madrchsod]

7. go to the black commentator website

for their take on the direction of the democratic leadership. they never fail to expose the truth about the democratic party...great read

[K-W]

13. link? EOM

[Strelnikov_]

14. I'll Bite. Linky Please.

[KoKo]

15. So...plot reveals ACT E-Mail sent out to Push Ickes over Dean!

This snip is very interesting. Also Harold Ickes is a long time DC insider. Googling his Dad would make for interesting reading. Not that he's a bad candidate or anything...but "Inside the Beltway" for me is a "no go," at this point. We've had them and they've failed.



Two Nearly everyone agreed, however, that the current crop of candidates would expand, with numerous calls for Ickes to enter the race.

“If my colleague Harold Ickes is interested in doing it, people should be beating down his door, asking him to run,” said Steve Rosenthal, who most recently worked with Ickes at America Coming Together (ACT).

But several senior party strategists said Ickes’s image as the Democratic avatar of 527 organizations, such as ACT and the Media Fund, could come back to hurt him with the state party officials who will wield more influence on the party’s choice than in previous years. In addition to the 112 votes held by state party chairmen and vice chairmen, many of the 447 DNC members who will make the decision owe their loyalty to their party bosses, as opposed to years when Democrats had lots of governors.

As chairman of leading 527s, Ickes will face criticism that his groups essentially bypassed the state party infrastructure instead of building the party from the ground up.

If Dean and Ickes neutralize each other’s support, then attention will shift to a compromise candidate before the final decision is made Feb. 12.<.b>

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/FrontPage/120804/dean.html

-----------------------------------------------------
SNIP FROM ROSENTHAL OF ACT's E-MAIL TO ACT SUPPORTERS WITH TEXT OF HIS WaPo Article. THE SET-UP IS IN!


From the Washington Post - Sunday, December 5, 2004. Page B3

www.washingtonpost.com


Okay, We Lost Ohio. The Question Is, Why?
By Steve Rosenthal



When it came to getting out the Democratic vote in Ohio during the presidential election, we hit our target numbers. My organization, America Coming Together, along with our 32 America Votes partner organizations, the Democratic National Committee and the Kerry-Edwards campaign not only exceeded our turnout goals for the Buckeye State, but far exceeded anything the Democrats have done in the past.



And we still lost. President Bush won the election by fewer than 130,000 votes out of 5.6 million cast in Ohio, according to the state's latest figures. We added 554,000 votes to our totals, but the Republicans countered with 508,000, enough to keep the state in their column.

Since then my colleagues and I have gone back to answer a nagging question: Who were all those Bush voters? Though much has been made of the Republican grass-roots effort in Ohio and elsewhere, we did not see the sort of Republican organization that seems necessary to produce that many new votes. Where did they come from?

[janx]

17. You lost me. How does this article push Ickes over Dean?

?

[sangh0]

18. Repukes don't appoint "activists" to lead the RNC

Republicans choose activists for this position and it pays big dividends

The Repukes *ALWAYS* names party insiders, like Racicot, to lead the RNC.

[JaneQPublic]

20. "Republican activist": Isn't that an oxymoron?

Does the Republican Party even HAVE activists? How about naming a few?

It would seem unlikely, since they're all about marching in lockstep.

[SeattleRob]

19. Alternative titles....

would be:

"How to Keep the Democratic Party in the Hands of the Out of Touch Elites" or "How to Keep Losing Elections" or "Keeping the People out of the Process."