I think there will be an uphill battle in Florida for change in the party.

[madfloridian]

I have felt that for a long time. I am not sure all of the reasons, but it is mostly that the leaders want to do things the way they want to do them without too much annoyance from the new activists.

It is going to be hard here to make a difference. Many of us were enthusiastic in 03 and 04, and a few areas really grew their progressive groups. But it is hard to bring the change Florida needs to stand up to the almost total Republican domination here.

There was the time that a Democratic senator and the party leaders worked together to keep a progressive from running for chairman of the state party. He never even got a chance to run. It was like Carville's smoke-filled rooms he talked about just before Dean was chosen chairman.

From TNR in February 04:

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?pt=GC1nbWBk1KawulpqPq3uRR%3D%3D

To many Washington Democrats watching the circus-like contest from afar, it has been an embarrassment. "I think it's pathetic," says James Carville. "It's so indicative of the Democratic Party. Now we're just playing into every stereotype: We're weak, disorganized, flopping around. ... Somebody should have fixed this damn thing in November. I wish someone would have taken charge and three or four people would have gotten together in a smoke-filled room. ... They're not running for president! They are running for party chair. This is supposed to be a rigged deal. You think the Republicans would do it this way?"

But every attempt to rig the race failed, revealing that the levers of power in the Democratic Party have shifted out of Washington's hands.

When those who run are filtered out, those who are left...win.

At a meeting in Daytona Beach in August, one of the people who was hired by the chairperson to the tune of $180,000 per year...was putting down the 50 State plan because it meant Florida did not get as much money as usual. I think blame was put on Dean. I checked Open Secrets, and I think Florida was one of the largest recepients of DNC money. :shrug:

Further, they refer to DFA people in tones that indicate lack of respect. That is not necessary, and it causes problems of enthusiasm. When you talk down to people, they don't feel so excited about things as they did. Once it was done in a group email by one of the party directors....

Then we learned the leaders were passing the word to discourage primaries. The reason given was money, but I tend to think it was more about control of things.

Finally, this was very irritating from someone running for state office, someone who is a state senator. He lost his campaign. I am not speaking out of turn here because all of this was right out in the open in our local paper. He should not have done it.

It is the 2nd portion of the column. Unconventional Talk
http://search.theledger.com:80/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005501240318

Campbell, a Democrat from Fort Lauderdale who is a multimillionaire attorney, is running for something in 2006. It may be chief financial officer. It may be attorney general. It may be governor.
Campbell would only say that he's in secret talks with other Democrats to line up a slate that would avoid messy primaries that waste money and divide the party. But Campbell's blunt talk may not be a rhetorical salve for the beaten-down Democrats. (My Note: they were having private retreats to make the choices, not sure of the dates. All the major Democrats here have been outspoken about NOT having primaries.)

On state Party Chairman Scott Maddox's endorsement of Howard Dean as the national party chairman:

"If (it's the screaming, liberal image of) Howard Dean that's going to show up as party chairman, then I think the Democrats got some problems."

On the party's abject failure to find a candidate interested in running for state agricultural commissioner: "We're looking for someone who owns a farm. Do you know any farmers who are Democrats?"

On the party's sad image: "I hope to God that people in North Florida, Central Florida, South Florida all realize that just because you have a `Democrat' after your name doesn't mean you're a loser." Campbell's lively loquaciousness didn't stop at the boundaries of politics.

Some people I know have been treated badly by Democrats here in Florida, but that's too personal to talk about right now.

I forgot Jim Davis, though. He deserves an honorable mention for being rude. He was invited to speak at a DFA forum for candidates. Either through ignorance of how the group was formed...or just trying to be smart...he said he did not agree with Howard Dean on most things. That was not good to say.

From Salon, a synopsis of the various successes this election, with credit to Dean when due. I am including a part that speaks volumes about what is NOT going on in Florida.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/11/10/dean_dems/

The Democrats didn't win in all those districts, of course, although they did enjoy several unexpected victories. What Dean and his organizers created, however, was an environment that allowed insurgents and outliers as well as the party's chosen challengers to ride the national wave of revulsion against conservative rule. That enterprise, in turn, surprised and overwhelmed the Republican capacity to respond. Faced with many more viable challenges than anticipated, the Republicans made mistakes in allocating resources -- and were forced to defend candidates in districts that are usually safe.

For now, Dean has reached a peaceful accommodation with his internal critics and enemies, many of whom were motivated by his outspoken opposition to the war in Iraq and his support from the unruly netroots. Debate will continue over the wisest national strategy for 2008. Should Democrats continue to pursue the 50-state strategy, even in the difficult terrain of the deep South? Or should they seek to consolidate and expand the gains made this year in the mountain states and the Midwest?

Ultimately, the party's presidential nominee will make that decision. In the meantime, the party chairman has won the argument he started last year. Rebuilding the Democratic Party in every state is as much a matter of pragmatism as principle. There would have been much less for the Democrats to celebrate on Election Night if Howard Dean hadn't been so "crazy" -- and so persistent.

In parts of Florida that atmosphere of change Dean created did show, but overall it did not. There is too much top down control going on here, and I don't think they know how to let go. :shrug:

[William769]

1. With all due respect to you madfloridian

Some of the comments in your OP gives me cause for alarm. It's the blame game why democrats are in such a disarray here in Florida. Yes I'll say it, I long for the days of Bob Graham & Lawton Chiles.

[madfloridian]

2. In all due respect to you.....they should give alarm.

And if you want those days back, more power to you. They were both good men, but Florida will never become Democratic again until we act different.

Graham is a good man, I miss him on the political scene. Lawton was great, almost a Republican...that old he-coon, as he called himself.

I want a more progressive party....if I alarmed you that is not a bad thing at all.

[LiberalFighter]

3. If you want more say in what happens in Florida Democratic Party

Then you must have people in position at the county party and district party. County officers elect the District officers. District officers elect the State officers.

Precinct chairs and vice chairs elect the County officers and can influence those same County officers if they have enough in place and they show up regularly.

[madfloridian]

4. We know.

.