Who is "the spokesman" of the Democratic Party?

[Adelante]

This is not about what Edwards said, what Dean said, in an article. This is more about what they didn't say at the progressive conference.

Like something on the war and its costs. I would have liked either one of these Democratic leaders to make a peep at that conference about national security/foreign policy, the "memo" maybe, how veterans are getting royally screwed, anything.

On this statement by Dean that's getting so much press, I thought he did a good job with Blitzer in explaining he was talking about Republican leadership, not Republican voters. That Edwards said Dean is not "the spokesman" of the party is his opinion.

But it does raise the question of who is supposed to be speaking for the party and giving its message.

For example, is it a coincidence neither Dean nor Edwards talked about the biggest issue confronting the country and the biggest weapon we have to use against the Republicans? Not to even mention, the reason we lost in 2004.

If it's not a coincidence, if it is decision-based, who makes the decision of what the Dem message is to be as it goes out to the public?

I would have thought it was the Dem leadership in Congress, since we don't have a president in office, who would be feeding the policy message to the Congress and the DNC. Yet it doesn't seem so, since only a week before the conference Harry Reid announced the Dem agenda and way up front was national security/defense/foreign policy, and at the conference both Dean and Edwards ignored it. Only Arianna Huffington "got it," and she's not even a Dem leader.

Is there a committee possibly who coordinates the party's message? Who is responsible? Any insiders here who can elaborate on the process?

This is an important point, because unless our leaders are giving out a comprehensive, comprehensible Democratic message, we sound like we don't know what we're doing.

[Adelante]

1. Clarification

Dean had one line:

"We're in a war because the people who got us there weren't truthful with the American people."

The line is fine, but all by itself, it was not enough.

[janx]

24. Dean has always been outspoken about the Iraq War. n/t

[truthisfreedom]

2. well, if you're gong to select a Dem the people love, respect, and listen

to...

THE BIG DOG.

WOOF!

[Donna Zen]

14. Huh?

Clinton, who was fine with me as a president, is currently justifying his wife's position on the war. That is understandable; he wants to see her elected.

Many of us oppose this war; opposed it before it began, because we knew what they knew; we were going into an endless war based on lies. Nevertheless, we worked and continue to work to stop this war and expose the lies. Everytime Clinton appears and spouts off things about how HE believed there were WMD, or how great Iraq will be someday soon, or what lovely people the bushes are, he undoes everything that many of us are trying to do. We cannot live is a democracy if the country's future rests on a foundation of lies.

Personally, I am very troubled by this.

To the question posed: which Democratic party? I do not mean to be snide; I really mean that.

[Eloriel]

41. Ack! Tha'ts just the LATEST Bill Clinton mini-atrocity AFAIC

there's a nice long list that precedes this one.

And oh yeah: Fuck triangulation.

[SouthernDem2004]

3. It is supposed to be the DNC. Heck, I am not sure what the offical msg is.

[Adelante]

5. That's why I ask

I would like to know, too, what the official message is supposed to be.

[SouthernDem2004]

9. If it is last elections, "Anyone but Bush." We are doomed again. /nt

[Adelante]

4. Note to Mods: This is a press release from SDCC website

Reid Lays Out Reform Agenda

Thursday, May 26, 2005

Democrats Working for America’s Priorities

WASHINGTON, DC – Today at the National Press Club, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid introduced a common sense agenda for the common good. After moderation triumphed over polarization in the Senate, Democrats are moving forward with a positive agenda for the American people.

“We Democrats have something better to offer. A reform agenda that will cleanse Washington…give power to the people – not special interests…and make sure that everyday Americans and their concerns get back on the Congressional calendar,” said Senator Reid in his speech today.

America’s agenda is: strengthening our national defense, rebuilding our economy, providing families with affordable health care, making America energy independent, and securing our retirement. While the Republican Congress has put all this and more on hold, Democrats are ready to do the people's business and address the priorities of this country’s common sense center.

“But perhaps the greatest abuse of power is to have the ability to help but choose to do nothing,” said Senator Reid.

The entire text of the speech is below.

Remarks by Senator Harry Reid
“The Use of Power: An Agenda for Reform”
National Press Club
Washington, DC
Thursday, May 26, 2005

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

This has been an important week for America. The defeat of the nuclear option was not a victory for any party, but a victory for our Constitution and our country.

As we said from the beginning of this struggle, our fight wasn’t over some obscure rule of the Senate. It was a fight for Americans’ fundamental rights and against the abuse of power.

And I'm here today to say that fight has not ended. It is only beginning.

This week threatened to be one that would undermine our democratic traditions. Instead, it marks a moment when we can finally turn away from government by polarization…and build a government for the people.

Time and again, the American people have seen George Bush and the Republican leadership choose between their partisan interests and the people’s interest. And every time, they have chosen an ideological agenda over an American agenda.

When George Bush and the Republican leadership make their decisions, the whispered wishes of a few right wing activists drown out the pleas of America’s families.

But if the Washington Republicans stopped to listen to the American people, this is what they’d hear:

Americans are sick and tired of getting caught in the crossfire of partisan sniping.

Americans want us to put the common sense center ahead of nonsense .

Americans want us to bring people together, to focus on what we owe to one another, and the responsibilities we share.

And Americans want their agenda – their jobs, their health care, their security – to get back on the front burners of the nation’s agenda.

Americans are coming to realize this Republican Congress is out of touch with the real problems of working families and that the agenda the Republicans are advancing is at odds with what people in this country really care about.

We Democrats have something better to offer. A reform agenda that will cleanse Washington…give power to the people – not special interests…and make sure that everyday Americans and their concerns get back on the Congressional calendar.

Strengthening our national defense. Rebuilding our economy. Providing families with affordable health care. Making America energy independent. Securing our retirement. That’s our agenda. That’s America’s agenda. But the Republican Congress has put all this and more on hold. I hope that now we can finally turn to the people's business.

Six moths have passed since this Republican Congress began and here’s their record:

They spent precious days trying to overturn constitutional principles.

They tried to overturn the decisions of courts and duly elected legislatures in order to insert themselves into one family’s tragedy in Florida.

They all-but disbanded the House Ethics Committee in order to protect the Republican leader from scrutiny – but then were forced to reverse themselves under public pressure.

But perhaps the greatest abuse of power is to have the ability to help but choose to do nothing.

While gas prices have shot past $2 a gallon, this Republican Congress did nothing to lower prices and give families some relief.

At a time that parents are having to tell their children that the family can’t afford to send them to college, this Republican Congress rejected a proposal to make college more affordable.

And even though we have gone eight years without an increase in the minimum wage – the second longest period ever – this Republican Congress rejected an increase that would give the hardest working Americans the chance to provide for their families.

Whether it is rejecting Democratic initiatives to provide medical care to veterans or to return to fiscal responsibility, this Republican Congress’s record is clear: when it comes to answering the call of the far right, it’s “I’ll do it ASAP.” When it comes to doing the people’s business, it’s “take a message.”

Americans deserve a Congress that will use its power to advance American values not a Congress that abuses its power to advance the agenda of a radical few.

We need a common sense reform agenda for the common good. And that starts with defending our nation and making it more secure. As of this month, more time has passed since 9-11 than the time between Pearl Harbor and the defeat of Japan. During those three years and eight months – sixty years ago – we invaded North Africa and Normandy. We freed people from the Philippines to France. Hitler lay dead and Tojo was in chains. We had defeated fascism around the world and had begun to build the new United Nations.

But today Osama bin Laden is still on the loose, our homeland is still not secure, we’re still not energy independent, and – in many ways – Americans are less safe than we were before 9-11.

Democrats are the party of national security. And we have an agenda to defend America from danger. We stand for increasing our military strength by 40,000 troops so we can wage the War on Terror on every front. We stand for securing our borders and bridges, our seaports and airports, our nuclear and chemical plants. We stand for tracking down and securing the loose nuclear weapons that threaten our people. And we will honor our troops and their families by making sure they get the benefits they have earned.

Our common sense reform agenda will take our economy from sluggishness to prosperity. A prosperity where a rising tide lifts the boat of every American who is willing to work hard.

When it comes to the economy, the Washington Republicans offer the same old answers and then try to change the subject. But the growing trade deficit and a runaway national debt that puts us into hock to China and Japan show that this Administration and this Congress have lost control over America’s economic destiny.

Democrats stand ready to win back America’s prosperity. We’ll end the tax breaks that encourage companies to take jobs overseas. Restore fiscal responsibility. Spur innovation. Open the doors to college. And make work pay more than welfare.

And if we want our companies to be ready to compete in the world economy, we have to hold down health care costs. Today, Starbucks spends more on health care than on coffee. Today, GM spends more on health care than on steel. Today, we can’t ask our companies to go head to head with foreign competitors with this burden on their backs.

Our families will never get ahead while they are getting battered down by health care costs that total $10,000 a year.

And our country will never be what it should be as long as the color of your skin or the size of your bank account determines whether your children can see a doctor. We can do better for them. And they are expecting nothing less from us.

Many of the jobs of the future will be jobs that come from new energy saving industries. Today, Japan’s and South Korea’s head start on innovation means they are running away with those jobs. We have to get back in that race.

Americans are getting fed-up every time they go for a fill-up. They know that our reliance on Mideast oil is making America less safe. They want us to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and make this nation energy independent. We can get there – but only if we start putting America’s security and prosperity first.

And Democrats will continue to stop George Bush from privatizing Social Security while we say “yes” to shoring up Americans’ pensions and making our retirement system more secure.

This is our agenda – an agenda for reform, an agenda to do the people’s business. And for them we will continue to fight.

The lines that divide Congress should be between right and wrong, not right and left.

Our enemies should not be those in the other party, but the common threats that face the American community.

Our goal should not be winning the news cycle, but breaking the vicious cycle of political battle and winning a future where all Americans can live out their dreams.

The defeat of the nuclear option shows what is possible when people of good faith – Republicans and Democrats – join hands and put principles ahead of partisanship.

This doesn’t have to be an isolated incident – a momentary ceasefire before Washington’s trench warfare starts up again. Rather it can be a new beginning. Because on issue after issue, there is a common sense center in America that knows what it believes and can’t understand why this Republican Congress won’t get the job done.

Just as there was a bipartisan majority that could not stomach the nuclear option, there is a bipartisan consensus for action on many fronts. And all we need for progress is for President Bush and the Republican leadership to let America’s agenda get its day.

The American people are demanding it. And Democrats are going to be standing in the common sense center to make sure that we get there.

In this Congress, there is a bipartisan consensus for raising the minimum wage – but the White House and the Republican leadership stand in the way.

There is a bipartisan consensus for allowing the prescription drugs to be safely reimported – but the White House and the Republican leadership stand in the way.

And there is a bipartisan consensus for stem cell research that has the potential to help cure diseases such as diabetes and help save American lives. From Nancy Reagan to Orrin Hatch, Republicans have broken ranks to join the common sense center on this important issue.

For four years, President Bush has not vetoed a single piece of legislation. Even when this Republican Congress sent him bill after bill weighed down with pork or special interest subsidies or runaway spending, he chose to keep his veto pen in the drawer.

But now, he is threatening to veto stem cell research. Not because most Americans oppose it. They support it across party lines. President Bush is threatening to veto it because the far right is demanding he do so.

I ask President Bush to step away from the far right and join us in this common sense center, to show he will be part of this new spirit of national consensus by letting stem cell research go forward.

This week’s events mark our chance to forge a common sense center that embraces an American agenda for reform. As Democratic Leader, I will be working aggressively to advance the work the American people sent us to do. And I hope that Republicans of good faith will join with us to get this job done: To strengthen our national security. To make America energy independent. To restore economic prosperity and opportunity. To help our families and business afford their health care. To boost Americans’ retirement security and protect their Social Security.

In the coming weeks and months, I’ll have more to say on all these fronts. But I pledge today, that in everything we do, the lesson of this week – that we can build on the common sense center – will remain front and center.

The nuclear option could have been another long, sad stride down an ever more slippery slope toward partisan crossfire and abuse of power.

Instead, its defeat marks the moment we turned around and began to climb the hill toward a common politics of national purpose and a rebuilding of America's promise.

This journey is our cause – and reaching the top of that hill will mark our real victory.

Thank you.

http://reid.senate.gov/record2.cfm?id=238272

[welshTerrier2]

13. Reid's speech was empty gibberish ...

look at this statement he made:

"Strengthening our national defense. Rebuilding our economy. Providing families with affordable health care. Making America energy independent. Securing our retirement. That’s our agenda. That’s America’s agenda. But the Republican Congress has put all this and more on hold. I hope that now we can finally turn to the people's business.

Six moths have passed since this Republican Congress began and here’s their record"

first, let me agree with him that we are all sorry to learn about the passing of the six moths ... because, as Americans, are we not all like moths? moths are nothing but butterflies deprived of color ...

but, perhaps more importantly, is Reid's statement: “But perhaps the greatest abuse of power is to have the ability to help but choose to do nothing."

Reid talked about "strengthening the national defense" but the Democratic Party offers nothing, absolutely nothing, beyond a 100% endorsement of bush's occupation of Iraq ... where is the vision about guiding the nation away from war with Syria and away from war with Iran? what's the point of blabbering about national defense if the Party offers no alternative to the republicans ?????

and it's time for Reid to start talking about the REAL NUCLEAR OPTION ... the recent conference on nuclear weapons made no progress whatsoever on ending the proliferation of new nuclear weapons and on disarming existing nuclear weapons ... Reid peddled the republican line in his speech about "securing loose nuclear weapons" ... feel free to call his, and the Democratic Party's position "republican lite" ... well, actually, it's just plain republican ... the reason no progress was made on nuclear proliferation was because the US totally refused to honor its treaty obligations and refused to talk about disarming its existing weapons ... but Reid didn't seem to want to talk about that ...

so on two of the most important issues facing our country and the rest of the world, the global war bush is fighting in Iraq (and soon in Syria and Iran) and the critically important issue of nuclear disarmament and nuclear proliferation, Reid, the great spokesman for the Democratic Party (???) had absolutely nothing to say ...

well, talk about being hoisted on his own petard: “But perhaps the greatest abuse of power is to have the ability to help but choose to do nothing." i couldn't have said it any better ...

[Adelante]

19. Yes, it doesn't say everything I want it to say

But I did take it as an intention of what the party will be saying. At least, I was hoping.

[Eloriel]

44. Oh. Yawn.

Did anyone note the irony here:

VOur common sense reform agenda will take our economy from sluggishness to prosperity. A prosperity where a rising tide lifts the boat of every American who is willing to work hard.

When it comes to the economy, the Washington Republicans offer the same old answers and then try to change the subject.

Could you POSSIBLY come up with a slogan that isn't decades old, Senator? Accusing Repuglicans in the next breath of no new answers just makes you look really silly.

Or if not, how 'bout reading a little Lakoff or something?

And I just zoned about about there or a little past that. Zzzzzzzz. Platitudes. Ugh. I guess I can't speak for all Americans, but THIS American is sick and tired of platitudes. They are meaningless. Tht's what we get from Bush -- and they're meaningless, and millions of us know it.

I begining to think Dean made a huge mistake allowing Reid and Pelosi to arm wrestle him into not being involved in policy. I don't recall ANY indication that McAuliffe was ever involved in policy (except perhaps behind-the-scenes DLC-type suck up to corporations perhaps), but geeze, someone better step up to the plate here. Is there such a thing as a Pyrrhic agenda? If so, this one certainly gets MY vote.

[MaineDem]

6. The "message" will be determined by Democrats

I know that sounds a bit ridiculous but let me explain.

Dean has asked each state party's leadership to convene focus groups (for lack of a better term) in their states. Gather elected officials, labor, donors, grassroots activists, all stakeholders to come up with a message for their state. What issues are important...what is the mission of the Democratic Party both in the state and nationally, etc.

All of the states' answers will be consolidated into one message later this year. I know it probably seems idealistic that this will work as planned but it's a start.

[Adelante]

7. I sent in the "Critical Issues Survey"

I hope everybody did this. It is very important the party hear from us on what we believe is most important.

[Jai4WKC08]

15. Isn't that the "Critical Issues" survey

That completely left off any issue related to national security, foreign policy or defense?

I still haven't seen anything about it from my state party. Heard about it here at DU, I think. Or some other blog.

Knowing how incestuous our state party is, they probably don't think the opinions of the rank and file matter much. But if this state is at all typical of others, you won't see national security pop up in the write-in section. Only voters seem to care about it, and no one seems to care about voters until a week or so before the polls open.

Perhaps that's why the DNC sent it out thru the states. They knew the state party machines would give them the answers they want to hear, one way or another.

In a cynical mood this morning, I guess....

[Adelante]

16. No, it wasn't that, the problem was

It left off voting reform.

The Critical Issues Survey is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1829979&mesg_id=1829979

I hope every single DUer will send it in. Make the state parties listen to the rank and file.

[Jai4WKC08]

20. Oops, my bad

CRS disease.

[ultraist]

38. Excellent move on Dean's part!

Dean has visited numerous states and of course, has his fifty state plan. I like how he is acknowledging the fact we must build up the party in all states, from the ground up.

As Edwards stated, we have many voices in the party. Not all voices agree on every single small statement. Dean and Edwards DO agree on the main issues and what our core values are. As do most major Dem players.

It will be fun to see Dean and Edwards together at the upcoming fundraiser for the DNC they will be attending together.

[Eloriel]

45. Oh, be still my heart. I can hardly believe my eyes.

But boy am I thrilled, thrilled, THRILLED.

And as for idealistic that it will work, my money's on Dean. If there's a way to make it work, he'll find it.

[Coexist]

8. I prefer "SpokesWOMAN" thank you....

[Adelante]

10. See the quotation marks?

Edwards said it, not me.

You're welcome.

Edit: Here is the quote.

"The chairman of the DNC is not the spokesman for the party," Edwards said.

[Coexist]

11. it was a joke, as in "I" (me) am the official spokeswoman of the party

I was being silly. I don't like emoticons that much, perhaps I should use them in situations like this, though. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[Adelante]

12. No problem

:)

[Protagoras]

17. I am.

You are.

And so is everyone else with a conscience who is brave enough to take a stand against the RW psychopaths in this country.

Beyond that....I'll take the Chair of the DNC for now over just about anyone else who's shooting off their mouth attacking him.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

21. Solid post.

[Cha]

46. Hey.. Grand Post!

Brilliant!

[BattyDem]

18. As I said in another thread ...

In all the years Terry McAuliffe was the DNC Chairman, I don't ever recall ANY Democrat saying he wasn't the spokesman for the party. It doesn't matter if that's "officially" the Chairman's role or not, the point is, the Dems shouldn't be taking down one of their own.

When asked if they approve of Dean's comments, they shouldn't answer - instead they should turn the tables and point out that the Repugs say nasty things about Dems every chance they get and Dean is simply playing the game by their rules. Dems are total idiots when it comes playing the press! The media manipulates them into criticizing members of their own party and they take the bait every time! When are they going to start using their f*cking brains?!?

I am so sick of the Dems bashing Dean! He has done more for this party in two years then the rest of them have done in decades. He got "ordinary people" to care about politics again. He's inspired a grassroots activism that the party hasn't seen in years. He making tons of money for the DNC and it's coming from average citizens, not corporate interests. He's going after Repugs in the same way they come after Dems and in case the DINOs haven't noticed, WE WANT OUR LEADERS TO HAVE SOME BALLS!

[PurityOfEssence]

22. There isn't one

Oooh, that Johnny Edwards just steams those Clark supporters, doesn't he? How dare he exist. How dare anyone like him.

There is no mouthpiece for the Party. There are leaders like Reid, Pelosi and Dean. There are venerable stalwarts like Kerry, Kennedy, Byrd and Durbin. There are stars like Boxer, Levin, Kucinich and Frank. There are luminaries like Schakowsky and Stark. There are also greybeards like McGovern, Carter and Clinton.

Edwards' wording was unfortunate, and I think both he and Dean misspoke. Still, the fixation here is sad. Things had been rather pleasant of late on the board.

Edwards was asked to comment on whether he thought it was fair to characterize Republicans as people who'd never done an honest day's work in their lives; that's a loaded question if there ever was one.

[Crunchy Frog]

27. I just love thin skinned Edwards supporters

who think that anything posted by a Clark supporter is some sort of veiled attack on their guy, and use just about anything posted by a Clark supporter as an opportunity to make broad brush characterizations. Nice example of that sort of thing here.:)

[PurityOfEssence]

42. You really think this isn't an attack on Edwards from a Clark supporter?

The whole point of the thread is to cast doubt on anyone who would say such a thing. The very existence of this thread is as support to another Clark partisan's lively little thread that "called out" Edwards and Dean supporters to explain themselves. These things don't exist in a vacuum, and it's not a coincidence.

Are you seriously going to contend that this thread isn't an obvious attack by a Clark supporter on Edwards? What else could it possibly be? It's not just whimsical musing about who is the spokesperson or whether there is one, it's an attempt to drive a wedge between Edwards supporters and Dean supporters, it's an attempt to slag John Edwards as a renegade ingrate, and it's obvious as hell.

Man, this is tiresome. At least some of us admit our partisanship, but far too many feign innocence and lob bombs whenever they feel they have the cover.

Oh, and stay away from the Anthrax Ripple...

[Crunchy Frog]

43. Yeah, it is really tiresome.

And yes, I am going to contend that this thread is not an "attack on Edwards by a Clark supporter". I also reject your insinuation that there was some sort of coordinated plot between WesDem and Clark2008 to post anti-Edwards threads. I think you're letting your paranoia run away with you just a little bit.

There's no reason for anyone to try to drive wedges between Dean and Edwards supporters over this shit. Alot of them are doing a just dandy job of it themselves, but it's always nice to be able to come up with some third party to use as a scapegoat for that sort of thing. Scapegoating is always so much easier than letting people be responsible for their own behavior. There's crap loads of attacks on Edwards from Dean supporters today, and yet you feel the need to blame everything on Clark supporters. Like they're the puppetmasters of everyone else's behavior. Sorry, I just don't buy it.

Take care of those precious bodily fluids...

[dogman]

35. That's BS.

We have a dozen spokesmen saying what they feel as the public opinion for the rest of us? Or we, who have no access to the microphones, are the spokesmen? We elect a Chair to run the Party. To undermine the Chair is to undermine the Party. How does this comment differ from the comment that there are two Americas, one for them and one for us? It is your opinion that Dean misspoke. There are many of us who feel that Edwards misspoke. The OP did not make that the point of the post, but you seize the opportunity to attack the poster and the supporters of a non-involved person. I don't see any purity in that. Just another cheap shot at a large group that you find undesirable.

[ultraist]

36. Edwards stated there are MANY voices in the party

But of course, that part of the quote was left out of the OP that insideously criticized Dean and Edwards.

Dean and Edwards will be appearing TOGETHER next week at a fundraiser. Why don't we wait and see what THEY have to say about all of this, rather than buying into the MSM spin.

[Clark2008]

37. Edwards doesn't steam me, as much as you would wish he did.

Personally, I pretty much ignore the guy. Excepting that he made a national statement in my home state last night that created a big buzz.

[janx]

23. The DNC Chair is.

Is one flamebait thread about Dean/Edwards not enough?

[Adelante]

26. Janx, I do not post flamebait threads

I want you to know this.

Is questioning authority out of fashion on DU?

I don't appreciate attempts to shut me up when I have a question.

[Crunchy Frog]

28. Of course you do WesDem!

You're a Clark supporter so pretty much by definition, anything that you post is flamebait.;-)

When anybody else asks a question, it's just a question. But everybody knows that when you do it, it's part of the great Clark wing conspiracy. Stop posting such silliness.;-)

[janx]

29. All right then, I will take you at your word, although this is an

extension of a thread that deliberately posited Edwards against Dean just to see what would happen at DU.

But for the sake of answering your question, we can all agree that it's an honest one, and I'm sorry I made that assumption. You did not post that thread, so I have no business making an assumption like that.

The DNC chair, like the RNC chair, speaks for the party. That doesn't mean that everyone will agree with everything that person says all the time. Nobody agrees with everyone all the time, and there are many leaders in the Dem party. It's the chair's job to coordinate thoughts from members of Congress, from the state parties, and from the executive branch (provided we are in a position to have one again), and come up with messages about the Dem party. It's also that person's job to oversee organization and fund raising.

From the DNC web site:
Function of the Committee

The Democratic National Committee plans the Party's quadrennial presidential nominating convention; promotes the election of Party candidates with both technical and financial support; and works with national, state, and local party organizations, elected officials, candidates, and constituencies to respond to the needs and views of the Democratic electorate and the nation.
http://www.democrats.org/about/function.html

There is a lot more information at the DNC web site:
http://www.democrats.org

http://www.democrats.org/about

So it's not a matter of who is "top dog"--Harry Reid, a Dem president, or whatever; it's a conglomeration of the needs and views of all Dems. It's impressive, really.

Hope this helps.

[Adelante]

32. It was another thread

Last night about 11PM in LBN that got me started on this. I slept on it and it was still bothering me. It's been bothering me since I heard the speeches.

Anyway, I have already written to Dean about my deeply felt concern that national security and foreign policy be incorporated into the Dem message; not taking anything away from our winning domestic policies, but sort of folded in, because I believe it is urgent and critical, not only due to the dismal state the country is in and the dangerous state the world is in, as a direct result of Republican security and defense policies, but because we can't win elections without getting a grip on this. I told him that I did not understand how a Dem reform agenda was released by Reid yet ignored by Dean and Edwards both in their speeches at the conference a week later.

I was not nasty about it. Generally, as you know, I am supportive of Dean as DNC Chair, particularly in his work reorganizing the elections apparatus. But I want the security message solidified and I want Dems out there shouting it. That's where I stand. I also returned the "Critical Issues Survey" expressing the same sentiments.

No, it's not a matter of who is top dog -- it's a matter of whom to reach out to with what is bothering me about how the party is presenting its agenda. I don't live in the States, although I am active in my Dems Abroad chapter. Heh. You'll be happy to know they're a bunch of Deanies who I have to shake into national security and foreign policy, too. ;)

Did you watch Arianna Huffington's speech? That's what I want, but I want it from the party's leaders.

[janx]

30. Before I forget! Here is the link to the 2004 Dem Party Platform:

http://www.democrats.org/platform/index.html

Party platforms change, and because of the reorganization going on in the Dem party, ours will probably change again as well, but I don't expect to see too many differences between what's coming and the platform of 2004.

I did hear Dean say recently that the party will be one of individual freedom and fiscal responsibility, which sounds awfully good.

[Adelante]

33. Downloading Adobe

I have a new mac and have been using Preview. I'll read it, though.

[AntiCoup2K4]

25. If they won't acknowledge the DNC chair in that role, I nominate myself!

And if Joe PNAC Biden thinks he has a reason to complain now, he ain't heard nothin yet! :evilgrin:

[WLKjr]

31. The People, that's who

[mod mom]

34. Conyers is my spokeman, Boxer my spokeswoman. These are the only 2 dems

I am willing to fund, the rest of my $ goes into projects with orgs I know and respect: Freepress.org (CICJ), CASEohio, DU,Greg Palast, Truthout, Commoncause. My days of giving to the DNC evaporated when they failed to count every vote, and refused to listen to our cries of fraud in Ohio!

[AmericanDream]

39. This is not a parliamentary system... we don't vote for parties...

This whole idea of a party spokesman is messed up.... Edwards is right that there are going to be many voices within the party. People vote for individuals, not parties. The DNC chair is supposed to raise funds and build the grassroots... not to lay out the policy agenda of the party.... its the elected officials who represent their constituents and define what the party stands for.

[autorank]

40. How about this guy?

Might as well, the people like him.


Serious people behave seriously, which means that they have a coordinated, clear message and push hard to get it out. I like what some of our leaders are doing, it's an improvement but this thread points out the need to get serious.