Guess who said: The Democratic Party is "addicted to failure."

[madfloridian]

"Hackett, who says he’s still considering his options, is less sanguine—and less diplomatic. “The Democratic Party is like an addict,” he says. “They’re addicted to failure. I want to help the party. The question is, how do you help someone that doesn’t want help?”

This is from Mother Jones today. It is called "Friendly Fire."
It should be read by all of us no matter what your stance on the issue of Brown/Hackett.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2005/10/hackett.html

"Are Democrats trying to shoot down their latest star—Iraq vet and Senate candidate Paul Hackett—in Ohio?

. Soon the national party came courting: Hackett met several times with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Chuck Schumer, chair of the Senate Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), both of whom encouraged him to run for the seat of Ohio’s senior senator, Republican Mike DeWine, in ’06. Hackett said he would—after been told by Ohio Congressman Sherrod Brown that he wasn’t planning to run—and on October 3 he publicly threw his hat in the ring.

Then, last week, his phone rang again. It was Sherrod Brown calling to tell Hackett he’d changed his mind: he was running after all. Then Schumer called, and this time he wasn’t delivering a pep talk. Hackett got the distinct sense that he was being asked to make way for the party insider. “Schumer didn’t tell me anything definitive,” he says. “But I’m not a dumb ass, and I know what he wanted me to do.”

Very interesting article.

There was a previous article there today about Hackett.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2005/11/paul_hackett.html

The Democrat who Stood and Fought

The insurgents are unmoved. Brigham invokes DNC Chairman Howard Dean’s 50-State Strategy: “You gotta fight everywhere to win anywhere.” They point out that between 2000 and 2004, more than a quarter of House seats were unchallenged or only lightly contested by Democrats. Jerome Armstrong, who runs the popular MyDD blog, wrote on tompaine.com, “Paul Hackett was the first step in resuscitating the party after the 2004 defeat.… Let’s run 232 Hackett-like operations against the Republicans in the elections of 2006, and plenty of swing-district wins will walk out of the wilderness on Election Day.” (In early August, DCCC chairman Rahm Emanuel announced that in 2006, the committee will double the number of Democratic challengers it funds—to about 50, out of 231 Republican-held seats nationwide.)

On the night I visited the Goldminer’s Inn the bloggers were in high dudgeon. Alternating swigs of beer and draws on his cigarette, the frenetic Brigham insisted, “I support fighting Democrats who aren’t ashamed to be Democrats and who aren’t members of the DLC,” the Democratic Leadership Council that is the ideological home of Bill and Hillary Clinton and Joe Lieberman. Hackett, listening in, piped up, “What’s the DLC?”

(Note Jerome's comments....he is now advocating for Brown. Hey, I don't care...I live in Florida.)

[babylonsister]

1. They have been, but Hackett might just

be the new voice that turns it and us around. Why not? Does anyone have any better ideas?

[BlueCaliDem]

9. I Like Hackett's straight-shooting/thinking in this part:

Hackett:
"To me, a race between two professional politicians is a no-brainer win for DeWine. You’re not gonna throw out a sitting senator in a Republican state with a very liberal Democratic longstanding US congressman."

I'm sold! Hackett should run for Dewine's senate seat if we really want to win back the majority in the Senate, and get America back on track!

[niceypoo]

10. Until the DNC starts attacking him....

for his non populist positions

[Kralizec]

2. I say let the new blood take over!

Hackett will get some fires burning in a new way, which can't help but be positive overall.

[napi21]

3. I don't know anything about Brown. Is he a connected insider?

Why else would Schumer want Hackett to step aside?

[madfloridian]

4. I am not familiar with him.

I thought Hackett's comment about what's the DLC was pretty cute.

A lot of people like Brown, but I think they are realizing that the grassroots are not going to let them just pick the candidates anymore.

[Carolab]

5. Yes, because Howard showed us that we have the power. n/t

[fujiyama]

6. Brown apparently has a progressive record

and is close to labor.

He has been a congressman for sometime now and was secretary of state for OH a while back.

Hackett seems like a more exciting candidate though and some say that Brown may have a more difficult time in rural areas than Hackett.

The way I see it is that this a problem with politics today and it drives off many decent people away from it - it's tough to take anyone at their word, even those in your own party. Brown should have told him that he was still seriously considering running and would let Hackett know when he decided. It might have avoided this whole mess.

[Deep13]

13. Frankly, Brown is excellent.

He is direct, well known, aggressive and has a huge war chest.

[tech3149]

7. I read a good argument the other day

that supports the idea. Brown could win the senate seat with national support. Hackett could win a house seat without it. If that plan were used, two Democrats could be placed in power with a minimum of effort and in-fighting. More bang for the buck.

[Armstead]

11. I think that could be a solution

Especially if they could mend their fences and actively campaign for each otehr.

Brown has the progressive stance on issues the Democrats need, especially in the Senate. He doesn't have the charisma of Wellstone, but their basic positions are very similar.

Hackett is a breath of fresh air, in terms of being honest and blunt. However, governing requires moe than the ability to use the word "chickenhawk." He could be a really good Congressman, and get some seasoning there.

[xxqqqzme]

8. would Hackett consider running

for Governor? Seems a good place 2 start.

[Deep13]

16. Ted Strickland is our candidate for governor.

[Kukesa]

12. This has been a big discussion subject

over on the Ohio Forum. It's terribly important to us Buckeyes.

Thanx for the additional info, MF.

[madfloridian]

18. We don't face this in Florida...all decisions are made before we know it.

I really don't have an opinion on Hackett or Brown, and my issue is with tactics that Schumer said he was going to use....pick the candidates and step in if anyone attacked.

In Florida we have a peculiar situation. It is even worse than fighting. Our Florida Democrats effectively pick the chair, get the other candidates out, and decide the agenda.

I am familiar with a lot of the state committee people. They are the ones the state chair is supposed to consult with on issues. She doesn't. It is like circumventing the ones who were chosen to represent us. They read the news about the party in the paper. Not right.

So here we don't even know when a decision has been made, it is just made...then we hear about it.

I think this situation is serious for you guys there. I think it shows that the grassroots are not going to sit idly by and let the leaders pick the candidates for them. I posted this mainly for that reason.

[bluedawg12]

14. Limpbag chicken hawk tried to swiftboat Hackett

of course it was a lie out of man whose buttock cyst kept him from service.

"A major in the Marine Corps Reserve fresh from a tour in Iraq, Hackett proved to be that rarest of modern political animals, a fighting Democrat..." somthing to think about, how would this play on a national level?

[Deep13]

15. Who says Brown had decided not to run?

I never heard that until Hackett threw his hat in. Brown told me that he was considering a run for the U.S. Senate during the summer. By announcing now, a year before the election, Hackett forced Brown's hand. DeWine is an entrenched an well connected and well financed politician. He has a solid base among fundies and business interests. Frankly, he is out of Hackett's league. Getting 48% against a relatively unknown and unpleasant opponent during a special election when the whole country was focused on it is pretty unimpressive. Had he done that well against Rob Portman it would have been another story. Hackett has no consituency base to draw on, no reason to expect to raise the vast sums DeWine has in a year when he is not the only name on the ballot. After all, the attention will be on the governor's race. Hackett has little experience running a campaign and made some significant missteps in his 1st district race. As promising as he is, we cannot afford to have an amateur as our nominee.

[nvliberal]

17. Ouch! The truth hurts.

If Hackett hadn't been such an idiot and went off on Senator Harry Reid, I might actually have some use for him.

As it is, he needs to get real political experience before taking on the big leagues.

However, he's probably blown any chance of winning even a minor race.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

19. This guy seems to be everything bushie has been pretending to be.

A regular dude outside of the beltway.

[Arkana]

20. Hackett can and should run

because a) the Democrats need him, and b) it'd be a big FU to Schumer (if he truly told Hackett not to run).

[bluedawg12]

21. The camera loves this guy, he is great to hear

he holds your attention and is not grating-
he seems up beat
he is well educated
and he has put his life on the line where as the chicken hawks have put their butts on soft chairs behind big desks.

I think a candidate like him would have broad appeal with a little financial backing for good ad's.