A People-Powered Question

[disgruntella]

Dean is probably my #3 choice at this point, as I favor Kerry and Clark (not sure which order, or for how long -- too soon to commit to Clark, not completely sold on Kerry).

Anyway: I do have a sincere question for Dean supporters regarding the "people-powered" theme of Dean's campaign, after being swayed by some arguments in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=357742&mesg_id=357742

The grassroots nature of Dean's campaign has made a lot of headlines, for good reasons that can only help Democrats in the long run. After reading the thread above, it occurred to me that while I admire this about Dean, my cynical side thinks it's too good to be true, and therefore I'm less likely to trust him. (This is just me being honest about my own thinking here, not a bash.)

And so I'd like to ask Dean supporters for their thoughts on whether the grassroots nature of the Dean *campaign* will actually carry over into a grassroots-powered Dean *administration*. I'm interested in information both from his current campaign, and from his record as governor, that addresses this issue.

(NOTE: I know I could attend a Meetup to see for myself, but I have scheduling conflicts for the next two meetup dates.)

Thanks in advance.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

1. What do you mean by "carry over into the administration"?

Do you mean, will we still be involved?

LOL -- the idea of www.whitehouse.gov/blog has been kicked around...

[virtualobserver]

2. I think that the people powered aspect has more to do with removing...

...big donor control over the candidates and party, and freeing them up to actually challenge some of the media and big corporate interests. What do you mean exactly by a grassroots-powered administration?

[disgruntella]

5. to be honest, i don't know

what a grassroots-powered administration would look like. That's why I'm throwing the question out.

If you look at the thread link in my original post, there are references to "informed populism" -- those are some of the ideas.

My confusion is whether this type populist appeal Dean has applies to his method of governing (as governor or as president) as well as to his campaign.

(edit - bad cut and paste)

[virtualobserver]

8. OK......I do think that a President needs feedback....

but there are limits. Leadership can be nice too.
But enormous amounts of feedback certainly wouldn't hurt an administration.

The nice thing about a Democratic administration would be that it wouldn't be based on lies, and therefore the conversation between the President and the people would be a real one.

[wryter2000]

3. Only one Deanie's opinion

And bear in mind that lots of other candidates are fine for me, too.

I don't know squat about Dean's governorship except what he's said, so I have to bow out on that one.

My impression based on a couple of things I've read is that Dean and Trippi have been pretty astouneded themselves at the reaction they've gotten. I read someone here quoting a conversation he had with Trippi that Dean and Trippi started the campaign thinking they could score some points for better health care and not expecting to contribute much more. I do know that the first time I donated to the bat, they reached their goal in half the time they'd estimated and went on to raise twice what they'd expected.

My analysis is that for many people, like me, Dean was the first one who was saying what's wrong with the country. Openly and loudly. And "We can take our country back" resonated in my bones. "George W. Bush doesn't own that flag" had me near tears.

So, sure...they're politicians. They're going to spin things (different from the lies WA hands us). But I think the grassroots movement is real.

Can that translate to an administration? Remains to be seen.

[LuminousX]

4. Grassroots Administration

I don't think anyone is expecting Dean to invite people who post on his blog into cabinet meetings, but I have little doubt that he will remember how he got into office.

[Demobrat]

6. He won't owe anybody anything

except the "little people" who donated. Not the oil companies, or the pharmaceutical companies, or the insurance companies or Halliburton. In that sense, I would say that the grassroots nature of the campaign will definately carry over into his presidency.

[disgruntella]

7. Thanks to everyone for the responses

I have to take off for the afternoon - hope I get more.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. I think you have to look at his tenure as governor

for the answer to this question.

How responsive was Dean to the people in Vermont while he was governor?

On the environment, (http://www.vtce.org/deanenvironmentomya.html),
on family farms, ("This isn’t my problem" http://www.vtce.org/deancrisisagvt.html),
on campaign finance (http://www.vpirg.org/campaigns/financeReform/cfr_page111.html)
the record doesn't look good.

But I'm not from Vermont, maybe there is more to the story...