Robert Reich: Why are they gunning for Howard Dean?

[madfloridian]

This is so good to see these folks coming out in support. It is a pretty raw deal when we win to have to start fighting out own.

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2006/11/why-are-they-gunning-for-howard-dean.html

"Why? Dems now control both Houses and have twenty-eight governorships. Dean ought to be congratulated. So what’s the underlying agenda here? Three theories:

1. The only way a Dem gets on television after such a sweet victory isn’t by criticizing Republicans – it’s by criticizing fellow Dems. Stirring up clear waters grabs attention. Attention draws crowds. Crowds create power. Power is the name of the game in Washington, especially when formal control of Congress changes hands.

2. Dean’s strategy of putting money into state party infrastructure takes money out of the pockets of Washington insiders – away form Democratic consultants and key congressional party activists. That makes insiders angry.

3. Dean is an independent DNC chair, not under the sway of the Clintons. Unlike Ron Brown, who guided the DNC toward a Clinton victory in 1992, Dean doesn’t play the usual power games. Hence, the Clintons would like him out, and the sooner the better. Carville, Greenberg, and Emmanuel, among others, are doing their bidding.

Which is it? I’m not so cynical or conspiratorial as to believe any one of them. But you come up with a more credible theory.

Thanks, Robert Reich...you got a lot of it right...well done.

Applause.

[madfloridian]

1. Who is Robert Reich?

"Robert Reich is the nation's 22nd Secretary of Labor and a professor at the University of California at Berkeley. This is his personal political-economic journal."

"Robert B. Reich is Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. He has served in three national administrations, most recently as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton. He has written ten books, including The Work of Nations, which has been translated into 22 languages; the best-sellers The Future of Success and Locked in the Cabinet, and his most recent book, Reason. His articles have appeared in the New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. Mr. Reich is co-founding editor of The American Prospect magazine. His weekly commentaries on public radio’s "Marketplace" are heard by nearly five million people."

Those words coming from him, someone who was in the Clinton administration, really mean something.

http://www.robertreich.org/reich/biography.asp

[REP]

7. Plus, Reich Has a Sharp Sense of Humor

and a concern for workers. A real concern - unless he's just faking it when I read his columns and listen to his commentaries! I don't always agree with him, but he is always worth listening to or reading.

[Apollo11]

15. Respected commentator on US politics

Regularly asked to appear on British TV news & analysis - usually via satellite.

[blm]

27. Reich also affirms exactly the problem of past DNCs - they were DC crony-centric

with all the money staying within the DC group and their new building there while the party infrastructures in every red and swing state was allowed to collapse since after the 96 campaign.

This was a DELIBERATE choice by a certain wing of the party who did not CARE that the 2000, 2002 and 2004 elections were at stake. They didn't CARE if the RNC cheated their asses off. They had no intention of engaging till 2008 to back Hillary.

They were just not counting that THEIR guy wouldn't be in place as head of the DNC. This is why we all need to support Dean wholeheartedly - the people gunning for him are the coverup wing of the party which BROUGHT US Bush2 and allowed 9-11 to happen because of their penchant for covering up for Bush1.

[madfloridian]

38. And remember Woodward's book...

and what Carville may have done to Kerry and the election outcome.

It all kind of fits.

[LittleClarkie]

61. Okay, I didn't read that book. Which book it that, please.

I'll read it now.

I've heard little bits and pieces, like that Carville was telling Kerry to emphasize the economy when the only time Kerry gained ground was on foreign policy.

And I'd heard little snippets that there were people who were supposed to be on Kerry's side in Ohio, but turned out not to be. Hence he got misinformation about whether or not he should concede.

[madfloridian]

66. State of Denial...snip

I got this from another post here, but I have the book. This tells you enough, and it shows the involvement of another big Democrat, McCurry.

After 1 a.m., Card called Cahill.

Cahill said the Kerry campaign felt confident.

Card was caught off guard. ... --Is there going to be a phone call?"

"We won't be calling you," Cahill replied. She seemed to be half asking
whether Bush would be calling Kerry to concede.

(snip)

Matalin is married to James Carville, a Democrat who had been chief
political strategist for Bill Clinton in 1992. ... ...

"Look, I know this is hard for you," she told him sympathetically.

Carville told her he had some inside news. The Kerry campaign was going to
challenge the provisional ballots in Ohio--perhaps up to 250,000 of them. "I
don't agree with it," Carville said. "I'm just telling you that's what
they're talking about."

Matalin went to report to Cheney.

What? the vice president asked. ...

"You'd better tell the president," Cheney told her. ...

"They're going to contest it," Matalin said.

"What does that mean?" the president asked. He had his note cards with
talking points in hand, ready to go over to the Reagan Building to declare
victory.

Matalin said somebody in authority needed to get in touch with J. Kenneth
Blackwell, the Republican secretary of state in Ohio, who would be in charge
of any challenge to the provisional votes.

(snip) skip forward to page 347...

"I'm the president of the United States," Bush said fuming, "waiting on a
secretary of state who is a nut." ... ...

Reports came in that the networks wanted to go off the air without calling
the race for either candidate.

Rove shouted, "They can't go off the air!"

At 3:36 a.m., a very sensitive communication from the Kerry camp was relayed
to Rove and Bartlett at the White House. Mike McCurry, Clinton's former
White House press secretary and a last-minute addition to the Kerry
campaign, had e-mailed Nicole Devenish, the Bush campaign communications
director, an off-the-record congratulations, advising that the Bush team
should not try to force a resolution now. Don't pressure Kerry, McCurry
said. In the end, he believed Kerry would do the right thing.

Bartlett and others told Bush about the e-mail, summarizing the message as
"We'll do the right thing at the right time." They could trust that McCurry
would be in a position to know what the Kerry campaign was thinking,
Bartlett said, but they had to be careful not to put too much stock in it.
At least we know there are people in the Kerry camp giving rational advice,
Bartlett said. ... ...

Card said they should declare victory. ... ... ...

STATE OF DENIAL, by Bob Woodward (pgs. 344-347)

[bahrbearian]

69. I would still like an explanation on how challenging the Ohio vote

was suppose to be kept so secret Everyone expected it ,at least here we did.

[Straight Shooter]

39. Well said, blm.

The Clinton puppet smears Dean, but Hillary wants my support if she runs in 2008?

Why does the Democratic Party want me torn in half? :(

[OzarkDem]

43. They all have to work together n/t

[blm]

48. They should work together, but it's apparent some are undermining those

who are actually sticking their necks out repeatedly to do the right thing.

[ginnyinWI]

44. he's a sweetie

I always enjoy listening to his smart comments.

[PennyK]

80. He left Brandeis for Berkeley

My daughter took his "Wealth and Poverty" class last year in Waltham...she loved him. We found out that his weakness is dark chocolate.

[Erika]

2. With my tin foil hat on

The only time I agree with Michael Savage is when he says the Clintons/Bushs have a play book where they both consume the WH for decades, tossing it back and forth between their two families. The new "ruling" class in America.

[JI7]

4. the thought of 30+ years with a Clinton or Bush in the white house straight

does not make me happy at all.

imagine if the 2008 race becomes Bush vs Clinton. meaning Jeb and Hillary.

[SouthernBelle82]

19. Oh dear gosh

I wouldn't like that. I want someone new in there. No more political dynasty's please. How are we as a country going to get new ideas and legislation etc if we just have the same people?

[ManWroteTheBible]

52. I'd like someone who is good for the country...

I agree that the status quo in American politics sucks. However, to say that all political dynasties are the same is ludicrous. The Kennedys are a political dynasty that has done (and continues to do - Bobby Jr.) great things for this country. The Clintons - no argument about their "centrist" view - effected positive change in this country. What was Clinton supposed to do about Bush 1? Wasn't that Congress' job? What is the next president supposed to about Bush 2? There is the obvious blood-lust on the Repub side, but we have our own version of it on the left. I'm all for impeaching the chimp. No other president ever deserved it more! But, I'm in agreement with Skinner that if we jump on that train too fast, we can kiss '08 goodbye! The only way to do it is to bring all the sludge up for public consumption - then when the public demands it, impeach away. That way, our side proves it is working by the will of the people. Comparing either of the Democratic political dynasties (Kennedy/Clinton) to that of the Bushes is hardly a fair comparison. But hey, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion - right or wrong. Just my 2 cents.

[The Wielding Truth]

56. It's not their name. It's their purpose. Be fair and look at the big picture.

Something we have been pushing the RW'ers to do is to look at the whole picture and evaluate the candidate on what they did, and not what rumor or press said they did.Dean has only shown support for our interests.

The Clinton's have desired to retain power.They have strong egos and desire to possess authority to change things.I don't dispute that, but I have seen them work for the common American.

I am a common American and I care about having representatives who listen to me and you, and are not so closely caught up in the Corporate Club Circles to help improve the world for it's people and our Country for you and me.


So nipping at Pelosi or Dean is like a puppy nipping at it's mother who has it's best interest in mind. Are we as stupid as the nearsighted Repubs who supported their leaders as they were being sold out? Or so spoiled that we can not overlook political missteps to club a good representative.


I have evaluated these administrators of our Constitution by their allegiance to us and not the superficial likes and dislikes of their
competitors. If they have done enough people wrong, it will show in their overall story. I rarely get taken when I view them from a distance.

We have been under such poor leadership that dismissing many on how they play the game is missing the point of protecting our interests and rights.

Watching their decisions and moves tell if they will be good for the country and the world.

We have so much to do to improve our future, that playing popularity games with the Representatives who care is a waste of time.

[othermeans]

68. You mean like NAFTA? Flag burning amendment, censorship of video games

signing on to the War declaration...Please they may be better than Republicans but a friend of the common American I think not.

[The Wielding Truth]

87. Yep, those are the nit picky things that you get into when you don't

telescope but instead microscope your politicians.Those things lean right but those responsible mostly walked strongly to the left.

You can't make them perfect, but you can sum up their actions to view their character and purpose.

[RaleighNCDUer]

28. If that were to happen, we'd see the best running of a 3rd party

candidate since Teddy Roosevelt.

[rucky]

78. Chelsea in 2016....Jenna in 2020

could you imagine

[jwirr]

35. God help us then.

[blm]

42. Exactly why Clinton1 covered up for Bush1 and need Clinton2 to coverup for Bush2.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2741678&mesg_id=2741678

[fuzzyball]

50. Now that made me laugh....Thanks Erika

[JI7]

3. Reich was also a Rhodes Scholar with Clinton

so he has known him for years plus worked in his administration and got to see what people like Carville, Emmanuel etc are like.

while i know they want to get a Clinton person in the DNC i never thought of the comparison to Ron Brown and it's helping Clinton. but that makes more sense why Carville is doing what he is now. we always knew he didn't want Dean, but there is a point where you just have to accept it and move on.

but he is on a mission and we can see why.

[madfloridian]

5. I did not realize he was a Rhodes Scholar with him.

I know others who were though. There is often a special bond there. It is amazing he would say this.

A lot of us are taking the attacks seriously, but in the long run I think Dean will stay. He is pleasing the ones who elected him.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/651
The state chairs are defending him.

[lyonn]

71. Clinton liked to surround himself with very smart people

Not afraid of competition, unlike our present jerk in office. Rove doesn't have a degree. How many others were dropouts or struggled to get their degrees. Plenty.

[bklyncowgirl]

16. Not only is Dean independent but he's also close to Al Gore.

Now, I'm not saying that Dean would actively promote Gore over Hillary Clinton. He's said he'll be impartial and I'll take him at his word but you can easily see why the Clintons are not happy about the Doctor.

My theory is that Bill, who's capable of knifing someone in the back and making them thing they've received the world's greatest favor, had nothing to do with this. It's just too crude. I'd bet that Hillary put Carville up to it on her own. So far it's pretty clearly backfired. I was reading the NYT blog and there was lots of love for Howard Dean and confusion and anger at Carville.

[KoKo]

46. Reich also left Clinton administration because he was angry with their

policies on Labor. It was a nasty break and the two haven't gotten along since.

[hollowdweller]

85. Reich was one of my favorite Clinton appointees

I think he's one of the smartest people in the party.

[REP]

6. "Nobody Shoots At You On The Way Down" - Dale Eldred (American Scupltor)

That's why. Carville's a has-been. Dean isn't.

[sandnsea]

8. Good for him

I wish there was a more prominent place for him in the party, he's terrific.

Although I think certain Dems can get on TV to do anything they want, they just currently want to criticize non-Clinton Dems.

[wisteria]

9. I am happy he has commented on this. n/t

[opihimoimoi]

10. Me too...I think the man has tons of brains...unlike the First Dufus...

[provis99]

11. damned DLC assholes

liberals and progressives creamed their candidates in the primaries in some places, and also won general elections, so they've go serious power envy. Their dopey "triangulate" theories on gaining power over Republicans has been shown to be as flawed as Neo-cons ideas on subduing Iraq, so now they want to torpedo the liberal ship out of spite at their own failings. Why don't you go kiss Zell Miller's ass all you DLC putzes.

[Senator]

12. They're All the Same "Theory"

To wit, the LieberDem members of the DC/Euphemedia Analstocracy are flailing, now that their insular, non-reality bubble is sustaining punctures from outside the beltway.

And Reich is "not so cynical or conspiritorial as to believe" much of anything.

Or he wouldn't be doing a blog post designed to 1. get him on TV by highlighting the criticizing of fellow Dems and 2. hedge against taking money out of his book-sale pockets, by 3. pretending he hasn't spent decades as a "key activist" and "power game" playing "insider."

And now that Bob's "one of us" he'll explain why if we try to impeach bushcheney we'll be doomed, doomed I tell you!

I really didn't think he could get more boring.

--

[w4rma]

13. Reich knows, from the inside, how the game is played. And he is working to change the rules. (nt)

[Senator]

14. I see ... I'm sure the war criminals are shaking in their boots n/t

[Q]

17. Dems could just as easily have had their asses handed to them...

...but they TOOK BACK BOTH HOUSES. This has to be a success story by any standard. Why then are the 'new' Democrats calling for Dean's head? Could it be that he was TOO successful? Perhaps he showed that the DLC's 'triangulation' strategy wasn't necessary in order to do what many thought was impossible...to take back both houses?

The DLC wants full control of the party...like they had during the Clinton years. But there is no going back. They thought they had Gore in their pocket...but even HE tossed the DLC out the door when he realized what they were all about.

[OzarkDem]

23. Obvious as Emmanuel "elbowed" his way to the podium yesterday

ahead of Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer when they met with the press.

These power plays are childish and unnecessary. The "old" Dems of the DLC need to sit back and let things play out. Their fears are unfounded, no one is going to destroy corporate America.

[SouthernBelle82]

18. He's got it exactly right

Of course it also adds to the factor that the media here is rightwing anyways so they love to undermine and bash democrats. Make the party look like they're not getting a long and whatnot. I also think he is right about Carville and their group.

[farmbo]

20. Spot On! This is all about returning control to the Beltway Elites...

... and wrestling it back from the Great Unwashed: the 50 state chairs and the Netroots.

[MoonRiver]

21. Thank goodness it appears that CarVILE et. al are not getting away with this outrage.

Soon no Democrat will want to be seen within 6 feet of that creep. :mad:

[wicket]

22. Robert Reich rules

Massachusetts made a huge mistake by not nominating him to take on Mitt Romney for the governorship back in 2002.

K & R

[Reader Rabbit]

24. Of course the folks who rarely leave DC are threatened:

At its most basic level, Dean is taking the power of the few and putting it in the hands of the many. That's what the whole Fifty State Strategy is about. Of course those who are members of The Few, regardless of party affiliation, are going to fight that movement. The more power placed in the hands of the people, the less there is for the Washington elite, who have made a lucrative business out of perpetuating the contentious nature of politics.

Politics are evolving, and the power-brokers of the past are on their way to becoming dinosaurs. They foresee their own extinction, and they're terrified.

[wholetruth00]

25. Same question in my mind. A real deep look into who is behind this

swiftboating of Dean is in order.

[cadmium]

26. Coming from a brilliant guy who knows how

the insiders do business. Now I have to go back to look at his blog. He is hedging his opinions but he seems to think what a lot of us think

[jwirr]

36. Read his book "Reason". There is little doubt that we could

agree on most things.

[disndat]

29. Power struggle

It is good to have Reich on Deans side. It looks like the Wash insiders against Dean's Nov. 7th success and his elevation to national prominence and leadership. Ultimately, it may be H.C. against Al Gore '08. I will bet on Gore. He supported Dean in '04.

[jwirr]

37. And Gore has been very clear about his motives, no hiden agenda.

[underpants]

30. All three are on the mark but #1 is especially insightful

There can be no Republican "bashing" on the TV none allowed.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[woodsgirl]

34. I'm so glad

these spokesmen for the the Clinton wing of the democratic
party are not good public speakers. Rahm Emmanuel's speech is
pressured and manic..like George Bush.Carville used to be
funny and entertaining...now he seems vindictive and blah.
Howard Dean comes across as intelligent, sense of humor and
usually relaxed. I wish the Clinton wing would just go away,
but we all know they won't.I'm glad the populist wing of OUR
party has good spokespeople. Pelosi is shining. If she doesn't
allow Conyers to chair the judicial committee, it won't bode
well for US...that's the one to watch...since Conyers is for
cleaning up the election mess and impeachment...and so far
Pelosi has been quiet about those two pressing issues. 

[creeksneakers2]

40. There is no Clinton wing

And there is no evidence that the Clintons have anything to do with the attacks on Dean. I'm not sure I remember correctly, but I think the Clintons supported Dean last time he ran for DNC chair.

[blm]

41. No they didn't.

.

[cali]

45. They actively opposed him.

I'll take Reich's word over yours. And common sense points to Hillary. Of course she wants someone who's firmly in her corner chairing the DNC. That's a no brainer.

[Morgana LaFey]

49. So actively opposed him that they asked everybody they knew

to run against him. A few did, to no avail.

[creeksneakers2]

57. If anybody was their man it was Harold Ickes

who dropped out and endorsed Dean. I can't find anything on Google about the Clintons opposing Howard Dean. I can find speculation that Ickes would have never endorsed Dean over the Clinton's objections.

There were lots of right wing propaganda stories about the Clintons getting involved in DNC elections. At one time the right wing made up a story about Kerry and Clinton fighting over Terry McCauliffe staying on as DNC chair. Terry McCauliffe didn't even run in 2004. The right wing has long alleged bad blood between the Clintons and Dean but offer no evidence, just like the posters here.

I'm about to check the veracity of all this fuss over comments by James Carville. (Its also rightwinglike to have mass outrage over something some idiot said.)
I wondered, so I checked. I don't think there even is a DNC election this year. This is from Wikipedia:

"The chairman of the DNC (currently Howard Dean) is elected by vote of the Democratic National Committee Members for a FOUR YEAR TERM.".

The Chairman can be removed by a majority vote but currently I've seen no other candidates or movements or anything like that. All I've seen at all is James Carville talking shit.

TWO THEORIES:

(A) SECRET PLOT BY THE CLINTONS TO GET RID OF DEAN

(B) JUST JAMES CARVILLE TALKING SHIT

A= no evidence at all

B= For one thing, Carville said the there was a movement to put Harold Ford in. Deans says he called Ford and Ford has nothing to do with this. And why would the Clintons pick Ford when they have so many high powered people who are closer to them? Don't you think that the Clintons are smart enough to find out if a DNC candidate wants the job before launching a giant conspiracy to get that guy in?

[Morgana LaFey]

83. What, you think I made it up? Dreamed it?

I can't find anything on Google about the Clintons opposing Howard Dean.

Hmmm. Maybe you should upgrade your google software to a current version. Or something. (Hey! I consider MY idea every bit as plausible as his excuse.)

Here's an excellent article which you should read in its entirety, but for now you can start with the quote by Howard Fineman of Newsweek:

(W)ith the DNC meeting approaching on February 12, party insiders have been conducting an urgent, so far fruitless, search for a consensus Dean-stopper. The Clintons don't like Dean on substance or style, seeing him as too left and too loose-lipped. But they're being careful.... Last week the search for a surefire Dean-stopper (if there is one) reached new levels, Newsweek has learned, with several governors--among them Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania and Bill Richardson of New Mexico--trying to gin up a last-ditch plan: Let Dean be chairman, but confine his role to pure nuts-and-bolts duties by layering him with a new 'general chairman' spokesman for the party. They abandoned the idea after realizing that they didn't have the votes to change the rules.... That left the anti-Dean forces with only one clear strategy: recycling the long list of his provocative statements.

Again, read the whole article. You'll definitely learn a few things.
http://www.citypages.com/databank/26/1281/article13433.asp

[creeksneakers2]

93. There was nothing in the article I hadn't already heard

And all it says about the Clintons is that they didn't like Dean, not anything about them campaigning against him. "But they're being careful."

The author also falsely alleges that attacks on comments Dean made came from Democratic insiders. The attacks came from the vast right wing conspiracy, which views Dean as a major threat.

[Morgana LaFey]

94. Okay --

If you actually read the article, then I say: You win. I ain't gonna mess with that. Nope. Anyone whose private reality is quite so out of focus is NOT one I'm going to try to wrest away from them. Nuh huh. So you are most welcome to whatever you think happened, whenever you think it happened, however you think it happened. Whatever you say.

Enjoy!

[libodem]

67. Money

it's always about money. Sick. Even when they are on my side. I still don't like it. I have always liked Bill Clinton. Hillary seems so verbally incongruent with what I actually believe her views are. She tries to support right-wing ideology to be bipartisan and she is not fooling anyone. Any right-wing pundit will bash her for voting with them or spouting their message, saying she will revert as soon as she is elected president. Those wingers are just waiting to swiftboat, Hillary if she wins the primary. She should talk the talk and walk the walk; be more progressive. The the DLC and the DNC should both get under the big tent with the DCCC. We should unite and not take any money from Corpofascists so they can't control us.

[PassingFair]

88. Wake UP

The DLC ARE the "Corpofascists"

They are a "think tank"

They're TAXABLE for Pete's sake.

[Jim Sagle]

74. So it's all about Israel, huh?

Nice way to disrupt a victory parade.

[mom cat]

32. Door number three:

Now that the Dems have power, there was bound to be a power struggle
between the DINOS and We The People. If anyone thought we could kick back and relax after our victoey, they need to wake up and smell the shit.
Now is the time that we need to work even harder not to have the elites steal our victory. They are already trying:
Carville, Hoyer, and the bi-partisan push for more funding for this illegal war:
This is from the Friends Committee on National Legislation: Please take action:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2974236&mesg_id=2974236

Edited to add link.

[jwirr]

33. I think it might be all three. We need to stand behind Howard Dean.

I also think it is significant that Robert Reich, who was part of the Clinton cabinet, would say this about Carville and Clinton. He would be in a position to know.

[DemBones DemBones]

47. I agree with all points in your post. nt

[elehhhhna]

51. All three PLUS: Mrs. Carville is a WAR CRIMINAL, and her ugly

huband wants to protect his awful wife.

I feel sorry for their children.

[creeksneakers2]

58. Reich would be in a position to possibly know

and at the bottom of the article he says he doesn't believe it.

[DemBones DemBones]

63. That's like O.J.'s "How I Did It, If I Did It." CYA. nt

[ProSense]

53. Excellent!

Democratic Party Leaders Applaud Success of 50 State Strategy

[tigereye]

54. I know!

we'll start sending Dean all our dough!

(rubs hands together)

[Kurovski]

55. I'm fed up to the teeth with the

DLC negativity and carefully choreographed corruption.

reich makes excellent points.

[CharmCity]

59. I am just curious...

How much of that $6 million Howard Dean allegedly left at the bank would have gone to Carville, Shrum, and so on.... whenever they talk about spending money, they're talking about big checks to consultants and networks for more air time... imagine the return on investment in Bob Shrum over the past twenty years... think about it.

[madfloridian]

60. It was wanted for TV attack ads...

One of the ones Rahm spoke of in detail was Duckworth. He as much as said she lost because he did not have enough money to counteract the attack ads near the last. He spent half a million to get Cegelis out, then 3 million on Duckworth....and then seemed to imply Dean was at fault.

The article was up at I think the NYT yesterday.

[jgraz]

62. Damn, I wish he would run for Prez

Is the country ready to elect a really really short guy?

[Cha]

64. How really really shallow is that

question?

[jgraz]

65. Since you asked, not shallow at all

I see Bob around town all the time and it's really striking how small he is. Now, we can ask if the electorate is ready to elect a woman, a Jew or a black person and that's just fine. But point out what Bob himself acknowledges as an obstacle to elected office and some member of the PC police is sure to jump all over you.

[Cha]

82. Sorry, first of all I thought

you were talking about Dean who I don't think of as THAT "short". I don't really see "Bob" Reich at all so I didn't realize you meant him.

[jgraz]

84. I'll take either one for Prez

Or BOTH:

Dean/Reich '08!!!!!

Short Dudes Rule!

[Cha]

89. And Smart dudes..don't

forget their smarts! :D

[jgraz]

90. Exactly -- my girlfriend says short guys have it where it counts...

She was talking about their brains, right?

[Daylin Byak]

97. Probally

I mean i'm short(i'm around 5'5,5'6) and when it comes to politics i'm really smart, I can name all of our Congressmen, Senators and Governors and I can talk up a storm when discussing elections and the U.S Government in fact for one day I taught political science and I taught from what is in my head. This was not for bonus, just for fun, my teacher was impressed with all the political knowledge I knew and wanted me to share my knowledge to the rest of the class and it was a sucess.

I don't know how I can store all this infomation in my head but i'll guess it's because I have autism, ADD and ADHd.

[ladym55]

70. Here's a thought

Dean's 50 state strategy worked. They were talking about it on Al Franken this afternoon. The Dems made gains in states like Kansas, Missouri, and Virginia. The Dems are a national party, not a regional party and should be treated as such. This lame idea of only focusing on states where supposedly Dems would be successful played directly into the hands of the Repugs.

Carville didn't think of the 50 state strategy. Carville gets no glory here. He just goes on TV and pretends to be a Democrat. He is part of the problem, and he sees himself losing stature to someone with better ideas and more smarts. This isn't going down well with him.

[illinoisprogressive]

72. Thank You Robert Reich

You know the score and the way things work.
thanks for being a person of character and standing up for Howard Dean.
We all know the reason behind Carville's slimey little tantrum has to do with Hillary.
It doesn't matter what anyone does, she ain't gonna get elected. Period.

[ShortnFiery]

73. Well put. Agree 100% :-)

:hi:

:dem:

[disndat]

75. ABH

or ABC. Amen.

[Vidar]

76. Thank you, Mr. Reich.

[rucky]

77. Reich is one of the clearest thinkers in politics.

It's always a pleasure to read & hear his ideas and analyses.

[rocktivity]

79. This dovetails perfectly into a DU poll I did the other day

link

The votes broke evenly between Carville being motivated by by his impending obsolescence and his being a DLC operative!

:headbang:
rocknation

[madfloridian]

81. I thought again about the night before Dean became chairman.

There was an unusual rally at a brewery in DC, open to everyone. It set the tone for what Dean is trying to do, and I see tones of all 3 of Reich's thoughts.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/555

"The crowd cheered. Reporters flipped open notebooks. A faint shudder was heard from the offices of Congressional Democratic leaders. And Republicans, recalling the Iowa caucus incident that so damaged Dean's presidential prospects, repeated their tired take on the Vermonter's political resurrection: "It's a scream."

Historically, the DNC has rubber-stamped as chairman the choice of whatever establishment figure was calling the shots--a President, former President, Congressional leader or big contributor. But with Kerry defeated, Bill Clinton retired and Democratic Congressional leaders struggling to remain afloat in the GOP tide, the way was clear for something Democrats hadn't seen in years: a genuine contest.

The competition suited Dean and the activists, but it horrified Beltway Democrats. Much of the griping about Dean by the party's Washington elites and their amen corner in that city's punditocracy was rooted in their faith that the DNC chairman was supposed to be someone like them: a DC veteran who knew more about where to grab lunch near K Street than about the best diner in Keokuk, Iowa. Thus, they cheered as House minority leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Harry Reid (as well as Kerry) all moved to block Dean's return to the fray. They never quite figured out that Dean was going to win because he'd been to that diner in Keokuk, and he'd met there with beleaguered grassroots Democrats who appreciated his saying, "We need to be proud to be Democrats"--and appreciated even more his suggestion that the way to express that pride is as a genuine opposition party."


From The Nation..pictures and article included.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/555

[madfloridian]

86. It could be about The Gravy Train...read all about it.

It is so named from a chapter in Crashing the Gate, which alone makes the book worthwhile.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/93

"They're above you in the food chain," said Carson. "You have to negotiate about what you do in your commercials. They call up the DSCC and complain if you're not doing the 'right thing.' They're a source of intelligence to people back in D.C. And these guys are all powerful people, prominent people. They aren't even working for you. It's an amazing thing in a lot of ways, really amazing." Carson lost the election 53 to 41 to Tom Coburn."

More:

I remember Farmer was Dean Dozen, and still have pictures, I think, from his rally there.

"Farmer wasn’t in the position to tell the party committee
to leave her alone; that as state treasurer, she already knew
how to win a statewide race in Missouri. So not only did the DSCC
pick almost all the consultants for her campaign, they eventually
forced significant changes in her campaign staff, including ousting
her hand-picked campaign manager—the same one who had successfully
managed Farmer’s previous campaigns—in midstream and
bringing in one of their own. Farmer lost to Bond by a 56-43 margin."

"One of the few who will talk is veteran political strategist Mike Ford, who mentored Howard Dean’s unconventional campaign manager Joe Trippi and has worked a number of presidential campaigns with his wife Sally Ford. And not only did he talk, he minced no words. “It’s a nasty, bullshit business, consulting;"

[Tom Rinaldo]

91. Thanks for this MF, and of course thanks to Dean and Reich too. K&R n/t

[Tom Rinaldo]

92. Ooops. Too late to R. Well another K then! n/t

[madfloridian]

95. Most welcome, Tom.

:hi:

[madfloridian]

96. Add Lieberman and McCain running 08, and what have you got?

Total confusion.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2983852

[SOS]

98. Imagine the opposite...

"Two days after a decisive Democratic win in the mid term elections, Howard Dean called for the replacement of the Democratic Party's failed strategists.
Citing James Carville's "Rumsfeldian incompetence" in every election since 1992, Dean suggested that Carville should have no role in the future of the Party.
When asked directly whether Carville should be ignored in 2008 Dean replied, “In a word, Yes.” He added, “I think he should be held accountable.”

Of course Howard Dean would never sink to such despicable, divisive drivel.

[madfloridian]

99. For some reason I thought of this post when I posted this video..

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/770

Greenberg,Carville, Shrum...Our Brand is Crisis Trailer..Bolivia

"'Our Brand Is Crisis'
Documentary details the hush-hush truths of geopolitics and the challenges of "exporting democracy."

"Unlikely as it sounds, a documentary that details with jaw-dropping candor how contemporary political campaigning works at the highest levels of government is set not in this country but in the far-off reaches of Bolivia. Yet the implications of "Our Brand Is Crisis" for how things go down in the United States — and elsewhere — are inescapable.

That's because the "full-service political consulting firm" seen hard at work in Bolivia is not only American, it's high-powered Greenberg Carville Shrum (GCS), the people, personified by James Carville, who helped put Bill Clinton into the White House and now sell their expertise to potential political leaders around the world."

[KoKo]

100. I think he's correct...and I wish he wasn't.

I'm seeing that coming in our State Party....not good. Dems not learning to dance with those who brought them...worked for them...grassroots.