No matter what happens, Gov. Dean should leave his post on 11/8...

[mrgorth]

Dean is who brought me into the party so don't start about defending him. His 50 state strategy IS the way we should be going. That said, I don't think DNC Chair is a long term position (unless I'm wrong). If we do well next week he should go out on top, write books, advise, whatever. I'm sure he could use some family time. If we don't do well everyone will be blaming him anyway and he won't be able to get anything done. Anyway, that's my $0.02.

[Art_from_Ark]

1. The decision should be Dean's

I personally like the idea of him staying on as DNC chair

[mrgorth]

2. Well I'm not making molitov cocktails here...

Just thinking of what's best for him and the party.

[movonne]

4. I agree...why would we want him to leave...his 50 state plan is really

working...

[Exiled in America]

3. I don't get it?

You don't seem to have any compelling reason for thinking he should step aside if we do well on the 7th?

Why do you think he should step down? Sorry but "isn't it a short term position" isn't good enough. Because the answer is, no its not necessarily. So - what political or strategic reason do you have for wanting him to walk away from the chairmanship if his strategy is successful?

[hijinx87]

5. an odd reaction to winning.

this sounds like better advise for an NFL quarterback. if dean can pull
this off, I think we desperately need him for 2008.

nothing succeeds like success, after all.

[Pirate Smile]

6. Dean has been strong enough to stand up to all the people trying

to pressure him to stop the 50 State Strategy and to go back to the old way we were doing it for decades which lead to the erosion and destruction of the state and local party systems.

I frankly don't think anyone else would have been able to hold off the Democratic Power Players who were doing their best to undermine him. He has strong state, grassroots and net-root support.

We need him as DNC Chair for much longer or else all that he has accomplished will get sucked back into the DC power vacuum.

This is just the beginning of building a truly national party system.

[NastyRiffraff]

7. No WAY should he leave!

Whatever happens on 11/7. For the first time in YEARS we're seeing a surge in credible Dem candidates...thanks to Dean, not Rahm Emmanuel. He's the only one of the Dem "power players" who gets it...that we can't win elections by concentrating on 18 or 19 states. He's out of there now, they'll go back to the same ol' (losing) strategies.

[alfredo]

8. yeah, the reps have had to stomp out brush fires all over

the country.

Dean has learned from the religious right that you have to build from the ground up.

[mrgorth]

9. Note: I want him to go out on top

and have family time. Those are my top reasons. I generally care for the man, not just what he can do for us.

[cali]

16. You're full of

it, and insufferably condescending. You have no inside knowledge about Dean, and it isn't up to you. It's up to him. He surely knows what's best for him and his family. You don't. Oh, and no the chairmanship is NOT a short term position.

[madfloridian]

10. That is not his intention....

at all.

[Rainscents]

11. I want him stay!

Dr. Dean is going to hang out for a while as a DNC Chair.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Umm I think he intends to leave only if the next president doesn't re-appoint him

[madfloridian]

13. I hear there may be a discussion on the election process...

since it is the DNC members who elected him. Now, that is only rumor from an advisor, and you know about rumors.

I believe the words were "there might be a tough conservation."

Rumors just fly, don't they.

[janx]

24. Could you elaborate? n/t

[KingFlorez]

14. I don't think that would be good

We have the 2008 election coming up, we need to have Dean there to continue to lay the groundwork. This 50 state strategy he has is working, there are Democrats running competitive now in states that are Republican.

[NoPasaran]

15. Someone should resign on 11/8

But it sure as hell isn't Howard Dean!

[JNelson6563]

17. I disagree

Dean still has much work to do. Our party is still very weak and sick.

Julie

[divineorder]

18. I want him to stay on no matter what

His work is reviving the state parties, and through them the local parties. He's gotten people to run in places where the Republican has been unopposed for long, has finally gotten the Democrats competitive nationally. In fact, I want him to have two terms, and be able to groom a like-minded successor in 2012.

[TayTay]

19. I don't think he should resign

I think he's doing a good job. The 50 State Strategy is not something that can be put into practice in 2 years. This is a long-term job and I would like to see Gov. Dean stay as DNC Chair at least for the 2 years left in his term and, if he wishes it, another term.

He is doing a good job and is fighting to make the Democrats a truly national party. I hope he stays.

[Claire Beth]

20. Dean is who we need....

IMHO. If it is his desire to stay on.
:dem:

[leesa]

21. Why should he leave when he's doing a great job?

[wyldwolf]

22. I disagree. And I don't really think people will blame him exclusively

Look. Party leaders will always have to shoulder responsibility regardless of whether the blame is legitimate or not.

Next week, I can almost guarantee that the media will be proclaiming Emanuel/Schumer/Pelosi/Reid/Dean as brilliant or they will be reporting how dangerously close the GOP came to losing power and predicting a continuation of that trend into '08.

In other words, we're going to look good in victory or defeat. IMO.

[Seabiscuit]

23. Nominated

for dumbest OP of all time.

This country needs Dean right where he is. For as long as possible.