DNC conference -- Do they feel the need to let the rest of us know what

[Skidmore]

the heck is going on? Will someone be reporting this?

[janx]

1. I've been wondering about this very same thing all day.

Where can we get information?

[madfloridian]

2. I know the state chairs met today. They act like we have no need to know.

I have friends from here who are going to all the events. If I hear much I will post. There has been almost nothing in Florida about it. We got a schedule from the Orlando DFA head, but have seen nothing else.

I got an email last night from one of my friends there. She said everyone stood around and patted themselves on the back. LOL

It is really quiet and secretive. Maybe I will hear more tonight.

[mandyky]

3. Check out the blog MyDD

He was on Cspan today, he is there blogging. CSpan is taping some of it and will play it twice tomorrow night.

[madfloridian]

6. When Jerome refers to tomorrow...I am confused. Thanks for the link.

SNIP.."If you want to listen in, I'm scheduled to call in with CSPAN tomorrow at 9 AM, followed by Donnie Fowler and Wellington Webb. Donnie's got a good handle on how to work these sorts of events, and has been telling everyone about his `biscuits n' gravy' breakfast in the morning event. Leo Hindery was here for 4 hours today and then left, dropping out of the race saying something to the effect that `there are a number of other good candidates in the race already,' so there were rumors here that he'd met and is backing one of the other candidates already in the race. I don't think he ever started out with much traction outside DC anyway, and certainly within the blogosphere his credibility (if not his candidacy) was toasted.
Tomorrow, there will be speeches and a closed Q & A session with the candidates, but as far as those whom are visible here, it's been Howard Dean, Simon Rosenberg, Wellington Webb, Donnie Fowler, and Martin Frost. I've not seen Harold Ickes (who is here), nor Terry Blanchard or Ron Kirk.

I thought all this was today?

[janx]

7. mandy....link?

I've heard of MyDD, but I don't know how to access it. Thanks so much.

[madfloridian]

8. Link here.

http://www.mydd.com/

It is Jerome Armstrong blogging.

[janx]

9. Thank you, MF!

[mandyky]

12. Thanks MF, I wasn't sure what the URL was

I just heard him on CSpan's Washington Journal this morning.

[mhr]

4. Just As Top Down As The Republicans

There will be aspects of the meeting that the party would probably not want reported for wide distribution.

However, the party meeting is comprised of party chairs and these people are all coming from their state party fiefdoms.

Many, not all, of these people operate state parties that are just as hierarchical and top down as the republicans.

Hence, sharing information is not on the agenda. In fact, withholding information is probably the truer modus operandi.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. The bosses have decided that the lesser folk needn't know.

"Democratic Party" has become an oxymoron.

Just shut up and follow orders.

[madfloridian]

10. From the BOP site.....more info. Thank god for bloggers.

http://www.bopnews.com/archives/002596.html#2596
Howard Dean 26
Wellington Webb 26
Ron Kirk 24
Donnie Fowler 14
Martin Frost 9
James Blanchard 7
Simon Rosenberg 4
Harold Ickes 3

SNIP.."Jerome has the details, but basically what happened is that DC got crushed. Leo Hindery dropped out yesterday, Harold Ickes got 3 votes, Simon Rosenberg got 4, Blanchard got 7, and Frost got 9. All four are DC-based, though Blanchard and Frost have somewhat more regional roots (Blanchard lives in DC but was governor of Michigan, Frost was a Congressman for many years). I'm a little frustrated because I think Simon would be a phenomenal DNC Chair (I also do work for NDN), but it was clear throughout the event that the state chairs were intent on more power for their agenda, and that DC people just didn't connect. Fowler did well, and his father is a former DNC Chair, so that's not a surprise. I didn't notice a big anti-Dean contingent, and red state folks weren't scared off. Webb was well-liked and well-known, but if there's one clear winner, it's Ron Kirk. Kirk wasn't known by these people, and he won them over."

[janx]

17. "D.C. people just didn't connect"

Really? :evilgrin:

[madfloridian]

18. Did you notice Ickes?

Now that really surprised me. Of course this is just exit polling, and won't the ballot be secret?

[janx]

19. I noticed Ickes, yes.

And I thought that this was just a preliminary Q/A session. Aren't they supposed to vote in February? Or will they vote sooner than that and install the new chair in February?

The unofficial support for Webb surprised me, frankly, though he is very active in the DNC. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[madfloridian]

21. No, this is the bloggers polling. Giving it attention.

:hi: They vote later on. Anything could change or switch or fall apart.

[janx]

22. Right, but *when* do they vote?

?

[madfloridian]

23. Sometime in February, I think. maybe, not sure.

I think I read had to be by March 1. Not sure.

[madfloridian]

11. I am surprised about Rosenberg if the blogger poll is even partly right.

Rosenberg was thought to be quite a shoo-in, perhaps to pair with Dean.

I hear he stood up for Dean against Al From, although Rosenberg is NDN. Then got mad at him again when he criticized the party elite too much.

How to tell what is going on.

[janx]

13. Some more from J. Greenleaf:

http://www.reachm.com/amstreet/archives/2004/12/11/the-chair-revue/#more-2936

Summary of candidates' main points!

[madfloridian]

15. Thanks: Dean's main points.

SNIP..."Howard Dean: Qualifications include serving as a county chair and chair of the Democratic Governors Association. DFA backed candidates and won in Alabama and Sough Carolina and Louisiana, and … We need a 50-state strategy. If you want to win, you have to run–everywhere. Downballot races are important. Dean suggested an immediate infusion of $5 million in cash to state parties to pay salaries and healthcare for executive directors and grassroots organizers. We cannot have the message coming from Washington–it has to come from the ground up. Empowering people and trusting them gets them to buy into the process. We need to remember why we’re Democrats: we stand for fairness, fiscal responsibility, strong national security, a strong economy, and healthcare for every American."

[janx]

16. The state parties would have to be held accountable.

There's no way around that.

But Dean's is a bold, new vision--investment in the states and the grassroots.

[Dr Fate]

14. The people who spent hours knocking on doors mean NOTHING to them.

Trust me.

The base is there to do "monkey work" for Donna Brazille & Terry McCullife- otherwise we are marginalized and labeled as "Micheal Moore conspiracy nuts" by our own party-it does not matter how many times we have been right- they wont listen. Never.

When they need "monkey work" and donations they call on the base.

When they need advice & consent, they are more worried about what Judy Woodruff & "swing voters" think about them than us.

If you need proof- compare the rhetoric in private letters that solicit money & volunteer work to waht they actually say on TV.

The private communications sound like real DEM stuff- the stuff on TV is always "soft."

The DNC made a monkey out of me in 2004- and I assure you all it wont happen again.

[mhr]

20. After Volunteering Over 1,000 Hours For Martin Frost This Last Cycle

I believe you are right.

What the democrats have forgotten is that the party faithful need results not rhetoric.

Until the party leadership remembers this simple truth, the party will continue to whither away.

[madfloridian]

24. NYT article about it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/politics/12dems.html

[sampsonblk]

30. Excellent insightful article

All the candidates seem to get it: Its not about left or right, its about fighting effectively for what we think is right. Excellent.

[MaineDem]

25. People, please, this is not the DNC

This is the Association of State Democratic Chairs. They may or may not endorse a candidate. These people make up a PORTION of the DNC but not all of it.

From what I've been told, a lot of discussion is about state issues. What the Chairs bring back to their states will be the important part of this meeting.

The DNC meeting including the election of a Chair will take place in DC Feb 10-12.

[madfloridian]

27. Here is the schedule, part of it is DNC.

In case it is not clear below, my understanding is that all the meetings will be at the Wyndham Resort in Lake Buena Vista (i.e., Disney).

Friday, 10 December 2004
Democratic National Committee (DNC)
Executive Committee
10 AM to 11 AM in Executive Session (i.e. closed)

11 AM to Noon in Open Session
Crown Hall at Wyndham Resort (both sessions)
1900 Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista

Friday, 10 December 2004
Association of State Democratic Chairs (ASDC)
Noon to 1 PM, Lunch in Ireland C
1 PM to 2 PM Meeting in Ireland B
2 PM to 4 PM Closed Session to discuss the election
4 PM to 6 PM Session to discuss best practices (probably open)

All of the sessions after lunch will be in Ireland B

Friday, 10 December 2004
Florida Democratic Party
6:30 PM
Reception poolside

Saturday, 11 December 2004
Association of State Democratic Chairs (ASDC)
9 AM to 10:30 AM post-election report should be in the Crown Room
11 AM to 1 PM candidates for DNC Chair, panel Q & A, in the Crown Room.

Sunday, 12 December 2004
Florida Democratic Party (FDP)
10 AM in Great Hall Center
State Executive Committee (SEC) Meeting
Election of FDP officers and DNC members for four year terms

Sunday, 12 December 2004
Florida Democratic Party (FDP)
9 AM in the Westminister Room.
County Chairs Association meeting to elect a President.

[MaineDem]

28. Umm, if you say so

I'm not going to argue.

Thanks for posting that.

[madfloridian]

29. Hey, I only know what they sent.

I am not trying to argue with you. You know far more than I do about party politics.

It just said the DNC, and I mistakenly thought it was. I was not trying to argue.

[MaineDem]

32. I'm a complete ass...I'm sorry

I totally missed the DNC detail in what you posted.

I'm sorry for being an idiot...an embarrassed idiot at that.

[madfloridian]

31. No, I don't say so. I really don't know.

I knew it was the chairs, but it also said Exec committee, so I mistakenly assumed DNC. I just copy/pasted from the email...none of those were my words.

[bobbieinok]

26. grassroots took over the dem party in 68; McGovern commission before

72: specific rules for demographic diversity, etc

74: massive democratic influx into congress