"Democrats in Washington are risk aversive" Dean on AAR today.

[madfloridian]

Renee has part of the transcript of Dean's interview today on AAR's Politically Direct with David Bender. I really liked this part. I posted earlier about his comments on the Abramoff scandal. In this section Dean gets to the heart of the changes he is trying to make.
Thanks to Renee in Ohio, link below.

Bender asked him about Al Gore's speech.

You know, he's given four remarkable speeches over the last few years, and that was truly a remarkable speech.

Bender: Well, actually what you said was, "The best speeches given during the presidential campaign in 2004 were given by someone who wasn't running."

Dean: That's true. I think Al is a really deep thinker and a great writer.

Bender: And I guess my question is, why isn't what he is saying shaping the debate more than it is within the rest of the Democratic party? He seems to be our front but people haven't followed in the direction he's been leading.

Dean: Well, I think they are. I think the grassroots people *are* following. The problem is, as you know, Democrats in Washington are risk aversive, and they've got to get over that if we're going to win the presidency back and win the White House back. I, frankly, as you know, I don't agree with anything that Newt Gingrich believes, but I do believe that he's a great tactician and strategist, and what he did to take back the Congress was to differentiate the Republican party from the Democratic party. And before that, the Republicans who were in the minority were doing the same thing that we've been doing which is "Oh, let's *be* like the Democrats, and then maybe we'll win a few seats."

We have to clearly show that we're different. And we can't just say "Oh, the Republicans are corrupt, which is true, we've got to say what we would do differently and how we would lead in a positive way. Now, I think we're making some headway on that. But it's hard, and the progress is sporadic, but I think we're getting better.

http://howardempowered.blogspot.com/2006/01/howard-dean-on-politically-direct-part.html

As I have watched Howard Dean the last few weeks, I realize he is pushing the others to speak out. A few months ago he said that they were only just beginning to learn how to be an opposition party. It really hit me that he was right. Many DC Democrats are very good people, they have just forgotten how to oppose.

I was glad he said he liked what Kerry and Kennedy are doing. He can't say much more on the filibuster, but that let us know.

It is far too comfortable not to fight and not to offend. I much appreciate we have a chairman who is not going to let that happen.

[oldtime dfl_er]

1. I appreciate him and his candor too

and it doesn't help that we don't have much of a free press anymore.

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/936290

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. If they've "forgotten how to oppose" they should get the fuck out

If a street sweeper "forgot how to sweep" he wouldn't be able to keep his job either.

Educate a Freeper Today!
Buttons, Stickers and Fridge Magnets made in America for brainy people
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[madfloridian]

3. Some are learning...let the Gov have a little time with them.

:hi:

[samhsarah]

4. oh, they don't seem to think so....

apparently, they seem to think we should keep giving up the cash and shut the fuck up. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2414669&mesg_id=2414669

[madfloridian]

5. He sounds like a Republican plant to me. I heard about that.

This is why I am so determined to stay because Dean knows we are behind him in his desire to change things.

I am even noticing a different attitude when I call Bill Nelson's office. They pay more attention, they are more courteous, and they act like they care.

[samhsarah]

6. Bill Nelson's my critter too. They did seem a little more responsive.

I guess we will find out soon enough. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster for Dean, though. He's one of the good guys.

[Marleyb]

11. good point!

If a street sweeper "forgot how to sweep" he wouldn't be able to keep his job either

why the fuck are they in there just taking up space then? There are plenty of unemployed people that could do a better job.

[JHLerch]

7. Filibuster Rebellion

The American political and government system is in a crisis. We are a two party nation. It is called balance of power. One party rule is called Communism or dictatorship. The Republican congress and WH are totally blocking all attempts to deal with this crisis of scandal, corruption, abuse of power, incompetence and gross mismanagement.
.
Maybe it is time to use the filibuster of Alito to bring the whole thing to a screeching halt until the WH and Republican Congress comes clean. Democrats should filibuster until the following list of demands are met:

1. Appointment of independent prosecutors for the NSA spying activities, VP energy company meetings, Abromoff Corruption of Republican politicians, WH outing of secret agent, Downing Street Memos, Iraq contracting and reconstruction corruption, Missing $9 billion in pre-war Iraqi government and oil funds, American run Iraq Provisional Authority activities, FEMA incompetence, whistle-blower protection agency corruption, and the Tom Delay scandal.

2. Convene true bipartisan congressional investigations and hearings on abuse and torture of prisoners, electronic voting machine integrity and hacking, WH misinformation on Iraq war justifications, extent of 2004 election corruption and manipulation, Halliburton corruption, and the Medicare drug insurance company fiasco.

3. Restore full document and witness subpoena powers to the Democrats.

4. Restore full Democratic participation in House/Senate conference committees.

5. Release full 911 commission part 2 report immediately.

Filibuster is the only power that the Democrats have left to stop this one party takeover of all government and judicial power.

Invoking the Republican named "nuclear option" to stop this filibuster will most likely produce massive outrage by the American public. The very idea of a one-party American government is outrageous.

We call it the Filibuster Rebellion.

[Straight Shooter]

8. Hear hear!

That is one of my main arguments in support of the filibuster; it will give the Dems a center-stage oportunity to bring up everything that has gone wrong. Why they don't jump at the chance to seize the brass ring is beyond my comprehension. The polls show clearly that Americans are favoring Dems for 2006, even with all the talk of filibustering.

Welcome to DU. Great post! :hi:

Don't be afraid of the F word ... Filibuster!

[madfloridian]

10. Exactly.... I was glad to see Dean support Kerry and Kennedy on this.

Someone said this showed lines forming between the DLC bunch and the rest of the party. I hope so. I posted this yesterday, but it is important to know he said this. He can push for a filibuster, but he needed to have his say.

He said he has no say in a filibuster, but here are his comments from a RI community college yesterday. It must have been filled with anti-war protestors and women's right protestors, as I heard someone there say he could hardly talk for being heckled. The article is pretty snide, too, I will just post this quote, which I consider important.

"In a brief give-and-take with reporters as he shook hands and took photos with supporters in front of the stage, Dean said of the Supreme Court fight, "Alito is a real danger to the country if he gets 20 years on the bench. I just want to see him defeated."

Asked about the possibility of a filibuster to stop the nomination, Dean said, "we have to do whatever we have to do. I don’t have a say in whether we have a filibuster but I am very supportive of what Sen. Kennedy and Sen. Kerry are doing."

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16020234&BRD=1712&PAG=461&dept_id=24361&rfi=6

[madfloridian]

9. Here's more from that interview about Reid and Dorgan and tribes.

I transcribed just the one part, and posted it earlier. Dean did a good job of explaining the "clients" issue the GOP is using to muddy the waters of debate.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2413402

[Straight Shooter]

12. Thanks, madfloridian.

Howard Dean has more courage and conviction in any one hair of his head than bush does throughout his whole sneerin', stinkin' cesspool of a heart.

[madfloridian]

13. Kick because people again withholding support.

This is someone speaking for us, and this is a shame to see it still happening.

He is trying to get the party to fight. So folks here kick him in the gut because the others won't fight.

[LaPera]

14. Cheers to Air America Radio!!!

DONATE! It truly helps our ONLY liberal national network!!!!

www.airamericaradio.com

[unkachuck]

15. thank you Doctor Dean....

....as usual, you're right on the money....if there is hope for Democratic Party, you and people like you, are it....keep speaking the truth, is sounds sooooo good out here....

[Mass]

16. Too late for me to read all the post, but I could not agree more with

what you underline.

I am liking more and more Dean in his role of chairman.

[depakid]

17. ...differentiate the Republican party from the Democratic party.

Dean gets it.

The so called "leadership" and "strategists" don't. As long as there are so many DINO's in Washingtion- as long as the DLC still has influence- rather than being relegated to the fringe where it and its supporters belong- the Dems are destined to remain irrelevant.

And deservedly so.

[madfloridian]

18. More from that interview that is important.

Especially since the right wing is refusing to differentiate the way they should.

My transcription:

Dean: (intelligible) "This is a Republican finance scandal, David. And I know everybody oh a pox on everybody's houses. I know Americans don't like politicians, but the truth is in this case this is a Republican scandal. Not one Democrat is implicated in it, not one.

Host: Well, I watched Tim Russert trying to do this again just a week ago. He said it was 3 million dollars in the Abramoff "related" money that went to Republicans and 1.5 million that went to Democrats. How is he slicing that up, how is he making that contention?

Dean: Because Abramoff has "some" clients who independently gave money to people like Reid and Dorgan because they're in their district. People give money to politicians for a variety of reasons. One, they're directed to for quid pro quo which is what Abramoff has pleaded guilty to. That's corrupt.

The other is they support who they like. Just like you and I would give a hundred dollars or a thousand dollars if we could afford it to a candidate whom we like. So the Indian tribes who gave money to Reid or Dorgan are giving to them because they like what they do.

Now it has nothing to do with Abramoff. As I've said before there's not any evidence whatsoever that Jack Abramoff directed a dime to any Democrat. We checked through every FEC report he did not give a dime to any Democrat. Gave thousands of dollars to Republicans. This is a Republican finance scandal.

And the media is lazy."

[Vidar]

19. Tell it like it is, Howard.

[Tom Rinaldo]

20. Good post MF. I agree with you, and with Dean. n/t