From Open Left and Fire Dog Lake: 50 State Strategy staffers being let go?

[madfloridian]

50 State Strategy apparently being killed by letting organizers go

"A rumor at this point (or rather, someone unwilling to go on record) but what I'm hearing is that the DNC organizers who implement the 50 state strategy are about to be let go. Apparently they will be laid off at the end of the month, and the new DNC chair will decide whether he or she wants to continue the 50 state policy.

Of course, there's no better way to kill the program than to let the organizers go. With them will go all the experience, a lot of the contacts and most of the trust. And many of them won't be available to be rehired.

I have no idea who made this decision, especially immediately after a year where the 50 state strategy seems to have payed off with wins in places Dems don't ordinarily win.

It is worth noting, however, that the 50 state strategy's biggest opponent, for years has been Rahm Emanuel. Rahm's new job? Chief of Staff. Wonder if Obama's ok with this?"

I posted about it last night, but no one got the significance.

From Open Left:

Last night's sad news

Chris speaks about the sad outcome of Darcy Burner's campaign. And the staffers of the 50 state plan.

If the organizers get re-hired after Obama selects the new DNC chair, then he believes in the fifty state strategy. If they don't get re-hired, then the only fifty state strategy Obama believed in was the one for his own campaign. I'm strongly hoping it is the former, but Emanuel really was the strongest opponent of the fifty-state strategy.

[antigop]

1. Thanks for posting this, mad. Please post any updates you come across. n/t

[madfloridian]

2. Few care. We have new heroes now. The kind who like top down power.

The ground up kind of power this brought, and frankly did contribute to winning....is apparently out the window.

We are not needed now.

[Labors of Hercules]

5. The 50 state organization is expensive as hell.

without the continual monthly donations of millions of Democrats, how the hell do you propose to fund it when there is no active campaign?

Us, the bottoms, are still needed, just in a different way.

[madfloridian]

6. How are we needed? To do what?

Be specific because I don't think so.

[BumRushDaShow]

27. Redistricting and bolstering the state legislatures.

The census of 2010 is going to be critical and it will require trying to get the state legislatures as Democratic as possible so that the damage from previous redistrictings of 2000 and 1990 can be fixed once and for all.

[madfloridian]

33. I am sure there will be plenty to do it.

.

[Gman]

59. Oh puhleeeezzz!

[madfloridian]

60. Why don't we get a mutual agreement going here.

I am going to update my list. Right now...why don't you do the same.

You are wearing me out from thread to thread, accusing and name-calling. Worn out.

Bye now.

[blm]

9. Losing infrastructure in states we just started to win will prove to be MORE expensive to our party.

Clinton FUCKED OUR PARTY OVER when he took office by using the DNC only for his own needs. He didn't care one bit about other Dem candidates unless they served his purpose.

It is EASY to fall into that power trap and not see down the road. It would be a FOOLISH move for Obama to follow Clinton's path.

[madfloridian]

39. I fear that is just what happened, blm.

When I heard the news about Rahm, I just knew.

[abelenkpe]

3. people are getting laid off everywhere

but I agree, this is really not smart. Seems like it would be better to get rid of staff that opposed the winning strategy if layoffs need to be made.

[Breeze54]

4. This seems like a boneheaded idea but maybe they will retain a small staff in each state

and call in the troops when the next big election comes up in 2010?

Maybe it's a cash flow issue? They probably don't need a huge staff right now.

If they keep the offices open but with a small staff for now, that may make sense.

It isn't cheap to keep paying staff & rent when people aren't donating, would be my guess. :shrug:

[MaineDem]

7. The program from the beginning was only through the end of November

I know most states will not be able to carry these people on their payrolls and I hate to see us lose them. Hopefully, the new President and the new DNC Chair can work out a way to hire them back in January.

[madfloridian]

8. And the permanent campaign, the money to the states will cease.

And we will go back to where we were. Before the win.

[MaineDem]

11. Yup

But both Obama and Clinton pledged to support the 50-state strategy so I hope that pledged is honored.

But the DNC has gone into debt for this campaign and there really isn't the money to continue the program without more cash. I hope Obama can use some of his to fund the continuation of the program. The state parties will be back to where they before, you're right.

[madfloridian]

26. This it the coup that failed in 2006. Now they got their way.

.

[Larkspur]

30. The reason why the DNC is in debt

is because the Clintonistas and their wealthy donors would not contribute to the DNC as long as Howard Dean was DNC Chair. And Howard, of course, would not kiss their butts.

It's not unusual for the DNC to go into debt to assist campaigns. They did so in 2006.

What pisses me off is that the DSCC and DCCC have lots more money than the DNC and the RNC and they whine and complain that Howard isn't doing enough fundraising so that the DNC can give them its funds.

[LaydeeBug]

51. Oh dear God, that's specious AT BEST, and you know it. nt

[madfloridian]

67. No, actually, that is pretty much true.

Again, I could drag out all I wrote about the donors kissing dean off because of FL and MI...

But then, since it's done it does not matter anyway.

[Larkspur]

18. The DNC paid for the 50 State Strategy staffers

if the states hired any others then the state Dem party paid for them and it may be those who are laid off, not the DNC paid staffers.

[MaineDem]

20. No, it's the DNC staffers being laid off.

And in most states all the campaign workers are going, too.

[Larkspur]

23. What evidence do you have?

Blogs and comments in blogs do not count. What verifiable sources do you have to make the claim?

[MaineDem]

24. I was told by a member of our state party's executive committee

And by one of the DNC staffers himself.

[Larkspur]

35. And where did they get that information?

Did Plouffe send an email to them all about discontinuing the 50 state strategy?

[MaineDem]

38. Plouffe had nothing to do with it

It came from Tom McMahon.

And, apparently, it was announced by the Party Chair to the Executive Committee.

And the staff itself has been told.

[AspenRose]

10. Noooooooo

We need to keep the 50 state plan!!!!

[Honeycombe8]

12. Why is Dean not going to cont. being the DNC Chairman? nt

[Larkspur]

14. Howard Dean said he only wanted 1 term as DNC Chair

I would like Obama to reward him as Secretary of Health and Human Services. That would fit Howard's real interest -- healthcare.

[Honeycombe8]

49. Oh, good. I was afraid they were firing him. HHS sounds good. nt

[madfloridian]

54. Tom Daschle is in line for HHS

And he fits better with the insiders, I hear.

[Larkspur]

13. This is a rumor so far

After winning the Prez nomination, Obama said he supported the 50 state strategy and Howard Dean remained as DNC chair.

The 400+ DNC members supported Dean's 50 state strategy and they said a couple years ago, when the Clintonistas attacked Dean for not spending more money on the Congressional races, that they wanted to keep it going even after Dean was no long the DNC Chair.

Let's give this a couple more months to air out. We still have 3 US Senate seats up in the air, one of which is a run off election in Georgia and Howard Dean already said that the DNC will put lots of effort there.

If it turns out that Obama will no longer continue the 50 state strategy, then this Democracy Bond holder will cancel her monthly donation to the DNC.

[MaineDem]

15. It's more than a rumor, I'm afraid

From what I've been told, the staffers have already been notified.

[BEZERKO]

16. If the organizers are laid off and the 50 state strategy is dropped,

Me and my wife will withdraw our membership from the DNC. We will do everything within our power, also, through our network of friends, to choke off as much of their funding as we possibly can.

[madfloridian]

37. They won't need our money now. We had a goal. Now we don't.

We stopped our donations a few days ago to the DNC.

I have a dream that Dean might someday work with DFA again. We had a lot of candidates do well this time.

But then most here don't even see what has happened.

[madfloridian]

17. More verification.

From the comments at FDL

"Having functioning party apparatuses in each state is very beneficial — and not just during regular election years. It allows the party to take advantage of special situations and move quickly."

We won seats that way this time.

We quickly forget, don't we?

And the blog I posted last night. From SD

http://thunewatch.squarespace.com/sdwatch/2008/11/8/more-on-the-sddp-cuts-it-gets-worse.html

Looks like it's true for sure.

[Larkspur]

22. Blogs and comments in blogs are not solid sources of information

They are rumors and gossip.

It's ok to pester the DNC and professional reporters to check into these layoffs and the fate of the 50 State Strategy, but basing your assumptions on blogs and comments in blogs that have no verifiable sources is basing you assumptions on rumors and gossip.

[madfloridian]

32. Maine Dem verified.

It breaks my heart but it appears Dean is out while DU is celebrating and loving on Rahm.

The coup worked this time.

[Larkspur]

34. Dean is not out until Feb. 2009

It's not Rahm pulling the strings at the DNC. It's Obama's Communication director, Plouffe.

[madfloridian]

41. The DNC has been Obama's since he became the nominee.

Dean helped with the transition, helped win.

Now the plan that helped win and gave a lot of us enthusiasm is being dismantled.

[Pirate Smile]

19. I really don't think Obama is going to let the organization that was created just

disappear. I think we should know by now that they are smarter then that. We will see what happens.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. I'm confused.

And bear with me for a moment... But was the "50-state strategy" group operating outside of (or better, in addition to) the state Democratic Party operations? If so, would it not be more prudent to "transfer" those resources back to the states to continue to build the state party machinery rather than run something "parallel"? I thought that was Dr. Dean's whole point - to revive the dead STATE party offices and what Obama put into place would be the template for what each state could then implement on their own, with some experienced folks now available and willing to work locally. :shrug:

I guess my confusion is whether the states have the say to take on those folks to implement the same strategy but directed by the states (where the DNC could serve as a coordinator and help fund initially while the states gear up on their own fundraising). Of course I do realize that many states are still somewhat dysfunctional and there are or will be some turf battles going on when it comes to their Democratic Party operations, but IMHO there should be some sort of transition where these folks could still be partially funded nationally and work for their respective states in that state party. I expect that some state party chairs might feel threatened... and there needs to be some serious PRing in those states to increase the Democratic grassroots participation at the county level.

[madfloridian]

29. Dean was paying staff in each state. Now they are gone.

Poof.

[BumRushDaShow]

40. Okay then the states should take over that staff

Seriously (of course I am preaching to a choir). It seems to me, in light of the fact that a "national" campaign is done with, the focus would shift back to the states - whether for state/local races or congressional races that will be coming up in 2010. And this is where the fundraising machinery that Obama's campaign has in place, would switch to directing donations (with the same amount of push and PR) to the state coffers. His local/state operations have the lists of people who donated nationally and those folks (which include myself) could be tapped to donate now to the states. The states would then use that to help fund the DNC staffers in those states.

[MaineDem]

43. It's very difficult for state parties to raise money

Most donors want to give to candidates or campaigns. I would love to see a bigger push to get donors to state parties but it's tough.

And without that push I don't see many states being able to add these employees into their budgets. I know Maine won't be able to.

[BumRushDaShow]

46. With the current Obama infrastructure in place

and his (personal) "push" on fundraising notes/emails/texts, I think it will be infinitely easier for states. If the states had put in the simplicity of someone donating say $10 a month via an automatic process (i.e., "subscriptions" just like forums like this have), then the person wouldn't have to go through any effort getting the donations in.

Seriously. The paradigm that one sees with Obama's fundraising strategy, which used what has been done for internet forums for years, is a good start and doesn't have to be tied to a candidate. The state party could then indicate that they would use the funds not just for infrastructure and staff but to HELP candidates "get started" and people could then go above and beyond to fund their "favorite" candidates.

You have to make it "easy" for people.

As for Maine, I'm not sure how many contributed to Obama via his exhortations through email and text messages with a "Donate" button and other PR things, but if say DU put in an infrastructure in the state forums to keep a donation page up in each forum (where it goes to someplace that sets up the "subscription" for donations to the state party), then that is a start. For $10 per month for an individual, that's $120/year. Multiply that by 10, you get $1200, by 100, you get $12,000 and so on.

Ya gotta use the technology - especially directing it to the younger folks. I think people's eyes glaze over with the old-fashioned beg-a-thon strategy done only at election time and I know for myself, I NEVER hear from my state party AT ALL - even AT election time. The fact that Philadelphia's city Democratic party chairman is currently a sitting congressman is ridiculous. The laziness has set in for so many state parties and they expect people to remember that they exist and expect people to somehow inherently know who to contact, where, and how to donate, and continuing that failed strategy is why the state and local parties are failing with the fundraising today.

[madfloridian]

47. I think by letting staffers go right after the big win...

that Obama who does run the DNC just sent a message.

It appears he prefers doing things another way.

[MaineDem]

48. I think we have to see what happens in January

There's a very good chance this will be re-instituted. But as of 11/30 the staffers are gone. :(

[BumRushDaShow]

61. Could be that he wants to defer to the state Chairs to take over.

In the grassroots, "bottom-up" strategy, he can't possibly appear to continue doing "top-down" control over the states. If the states can't get their acts together to cobble together their own "bottom up" infrastructure out of the DNC's infrastructure, then that right there exposes the bigger problem. The "how-to template" is now available with its success on the national scale and the states need to deploy the same for themselves on the smaller scale. The states HAVE to become independent but on the same page with respect to the platform, issues, etc. The baby birds must be set free to fly on their own, with a little help from momma bird, but momma can't fly for them.

[madfloridian]

62. The states don't have that much money.

Not really.

It is just going back to how it was before..just the few states that are easiest to win.

[4themind]

66. We'll have to see, we can't know that a priori

we don't even know for certain if Dean will be continuing or not, until it's announced,and if he doesn't we don't know know what the opinion of his successor will be. I'm inclined to keep a circumspect patience until I have more information. We know what has happened the question is why. Why would people push for the 50 state strategy during an election, win using it, and then dismantle it, it just doesn't make sense logically, it wouldn't serve their self interest. When things don't make sense logically to me, I try to look at some alternative possibilities, and see if they can be eliminated ,do you have any? Maybe they have very money available either right after an exhaustible push to the end, which they think may have made spending "everywhere" right now prohibative? Can this possibility be eliminated? The other question is how , does it have to be soley a 50 st. strategy or a 19 state strategy? If we take resources out of Oklahoma for example but keep putting more in places like Indiana, and the expanded west would that necessarily be a return to the "old way" Just questions I'm wondering, not intended to be a snark or anything.

[madfloridian]

69. No, it does not make sense.

Except in the context that those who opposed it the most are getting seats of power.

:shrug:

[4themind]

72. Del-nt

[BumRushDaShow]

77. The states need to implement an auto-donation system.

The infrastructure is there via Obama's various databases. The same sort of emails and text messages that I got for the past couple weeks about the happenings from the local PA/Philadelphia Obama organization should be transferable to be the state/local system (I think it was done by zip). Rather than texting that my polls were going to close in a hour or that a meeting was happening, or more volunteers were needed to canvass, etc. like Obama's group did, just text to say that a fundraising is going on and they have "until midnight" to set some "x" fundraising goal. Make it a contest... do something unique.... maybe include some incentives like prizes where a donation of "Y" gets you a local party T-shirt or a hat or banner or other paraphernalia - just like Obama did.

Knowing that the economy is tanking, I am sure that had this presidential campaign gone on for another couple months, people would have continued to dig deep to fund it on the national scale. The states need to tap into this psychology/sociology of people and keep that up but channel that same money to the states. The auto-donation, even on a small scale, seemed to be a painless way to give for many on this board. I know I auto-donate to a number of internet forums because they perform a service and satisfy my interest. Certainly the Democratic Party can "sell" themselves in a similar manner in each state/locality and get people to donate to the state/local party.

[madfloridian]

79. That's what I am saying. Dean tried that monthly small donations stuff.

People did not care about funding the party itself, they only wanted to fund a personality.

[madfloridian]

25. Dems are amazing. We accept this stuff so easily...so casually.

Dean's name has not been mentioned on the TV except by Chris Matthews. It's been amazing...the silence.

We had staff in place in case something came open. Now we don't.

Yes, it's expensive. But it would have been cheaper to elect down ticket candidates over the long haul.

Too many here are now refusing to see what has happened. This was the coup that did NOT happen in 2006.

Whether Dean wanted to stay or not is moot. You know the staffers did.

We are sure accepting. They got back their old way of doing things.

The smoke-filled rooms that Carville loves. It appears.

[Peace Patriot]

70. There's another way to look at this, Madfloridian, and we don't know--and can't know--

how it's going to play out.

First of all, let me say that I was at first appalled at Obama's appointment of Rahm Emmanuel as WH chief of staff. He's at the top of my list of DINOs. He reps war profiteers and global corporate predators, not us. And he is their hit man, for keeping real reps of the people out of power. WTF? This is Obama's first appointment? It really had me depressed. But I've been thinking about it since the appointment was announced, and I'm keeping an open mind at this point.

Back up a bit to the choice of Biden at VP. Clearly, Obama had to compromise with the "MIC"/Corpo wing of the party leadership, to have any hope of overcoming rampant election fraud by rightwing Corpo election theft voting machine makers and Puke vote suppressionists. The compromise occurred then, not with this Emmanuel appointment. And there was no way around it. Obama had to do this, or he would have lost (had it stolen from him).

But consider this: With Emmanuel as WH chief of staff, Obama will have direct control over him. Emmanuel has to perform for Obama, and implement his policies, or he's out. Secondly, what does a WH chief of staff do? One of his chief jobs is he presides over the team that gets the president's policy implemented in Congress. And who is in Congress? A whole lot of 'Blue Dogs,' DINOs and MIC-embedded powers that Rahm Emmanuel helped get elected (or (s)elected, as the case may be). Emmanuel helped put these people in Congress (--a Congress with a 10% approval rating!). He may well be the best person to ride herd on them, to get Obama's policies implemented. He has clout. He knows where the bodies are buried. They fear him.

Thus, Obama gets the best of both worlds. He and he alone has control of policy. And he has the DLC-tiger at his side, on a leash.

It may turn out to be one of the most brilliant appointments, ever. He had to bargain with the DLC/Corpo faction, and what he got was their most ferocious enforcer, to implement his policy.

One clue to whether this is going to be good or bad, for the people of this country, and for the Democratic Party, is who Obama wants for DNC chair, to replace Dean, if he is retiring (or moving over to a cabinet position, or intends to run for something in '10). (Is he retiring as DNC chair? Is that certain?).

Laying off staffers is pretty normal after a campaign. Money is simply not pouring in, as it was. I wouldn't take this as a signal that the 50-state strategy is over--not yet anyway. Obama is not stupid. And his compromises with the DLC do not mean that he has lost his mind. It's possible that he has compromised so far, as to throw our democracy away. Possible. But not probable. And I don't think we should be seized with panic about these early moves. They are the result of a bargain he already made--had to make--after his early caucus wins (not counted by Diebold & brethren)--and how he plays them is the important thing. I'm thinking having Emmanuel on a leash in the White House is an excellent example of what I mean by "play." We can and should express our opinions about it. But throwing up our hands, and saying Clinton and the DLC 'won'? It's way too early to say that. Who will be DNC chair is the more crucial indicator of Obama's intent with regard to the party.

Also, you really need to consider the minefield that Obama is walking through. Let's continue our democracy, on our end of it--by continuing with grass roots work--and see what he does. Christ, the man has been president-elect for four days! Give him a little leeway, and understand that, one false move, and he gets blown to bits. That's the political situation, as to the global corporate rulers who rule over us. I heard their fuckwad front men on C-Span yesterday, at a fucking Brookings Institution conference (Leon Panetta & co.), and my heart sank. They seemed gleeful that the Bushwhacks had destroyed the country, faulted Bush for not "communicating" so well (communicating WHAT?), like that "great communicator" Reagan, and expect Obama to take Reagan's place as brainwasher of the public.

Jesus God! THAT is what Obama is up against.

I think he's very smart, and his heart is in the right place. They are also very smart, and their hearts couldn't be darker. So we'll see who wins.

Keep in mind that FDR was a rather mild centrist, and breathed not one word about the New Deal, until after he was first elected and saw how bad things really were. A good friend of mine (far leftist) keeps reminding me of that. Once Obama has the reins of power, THAT is when his mind and his heart will be tested. It is much too early to know how good a leader he actually is.

One more thing: It took that son-of-a-bitch LBJ to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That may be how things turn out, re: Emmanuel.

[Historic NY]

28. Perhaps it would be wise to send some down to Ga. now for the runoff.

the more boots on the ground could help GOTV for Martin....send $$ too.

[NashVegas]

31. That's a Shame. Maybe They Expect An Even Bigger Landslide in 2012?

Nonetheless, we could use a few down here in Tennessee.

[Exilednight]

36. The DNC has stated that from now on, 3 million dollars will be set aside every ......

year for the 50 state strategy. With no one on the record, this story is nothing.

[madfloridian]

42. Maine Dem just posted facts above.

We need to stop denial.

[Exilednight]

45. I'm going by what the DNC said, no one from the DNC has gone on record .......

to say that this is the end of the 50 state strategy. I don't see any facts, or anyone from the DNC saying that this is the end of it.

In fact, Howard Dean was on TV right after the primary ended saying that they had put enough money, 9 million, aside to fund the 50 state strategy for the next three years.

[Peregrine Took]

44. The party leader should be completely separate from the administration.

[rvablue]

65. In years when a party wins the White House, the President is considered

the official leader of the party and chooses someone to head the national party.

In years when the party does not win the White House the party votes on who will head the party.

Remember the big to-do and campaigning and the voting after Kerry lost and Dean was voted in but not everyone was happy?

Well, you might also recall there was none of that on the R side because Bush just picked someone.
As did Clinton.
As did Bush I.
As did Reagan.
Etc.
Etc.

So, no the party leader is not separate from the Administration and never have been in modern history.
The President is the party leader of the party and picks the person for the chairmanship.

[Overseas]

50. K&R-- I too hope the 50-state strategy will continue. It was such a relief

to see Democrats finally compete for all those blue votes we knew were out there.

We need the 50-state strategy FOR THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

[madfloridian]

52. Long post at Kos...more details.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/8/65652/1673/615/657386

Whatever else it does, it wreaks of discouraging the base to just lay people off the week after the election.

Hubby and I heard it was coming, stopped our monthly donations to the DNC last week. Don't know what the future holds.

I remember Rahm's rants all too well from 2006. ABC just posted the GQ article again.

Kiss the Ring

[Teaser]

53. I really doubt this is true.

This just isn't credible with this amount of evidence.

When I see more reporting on this with more on the record quotes, I'll worry.

[madfloridian]

55. It's true.

.

[Teaser]

83. Because you say it is?

Sorry, you're great and all, but that's not enough.

[crispini]

56. No.... this is NOT OK.

Dang it!

[smiley_glad_hands]

57. K&R for confirmation and clarification. eom

[Gman]

58. The significance is that there's no need for these staffers

the next election is not for another 24 months. No need to worry about these people having jobs. There will be a plethora of jobs for Democrat staffers very soon.

This is a very good thing. The DNC doesn't need to be spending money on staffers for a 49-state* strategy when the next election is 2 years away. Good for the DNC for thinking for once.

*the 49-state strategy included every state except Texas.

[Uzybone]

63. Nothing but rumors spread to cut off our party at the knees

before we even take office.

Besides, why have 50 state staffers around when the next election is 2 years away?

[madfloridian]

64. Why, indeed?

I could drag out my posts I made about it about the plan to have a permanent strategy in place, but it is obviously not that important now.

[Uzybone]

71. Who will fund this permanent strategy?

I know we are ecstatic over this win but to be practical, the DNC does not expect a steady flow of cash from us while there are no elections going on.

[madfloridian]

74. Actually that was the dream....I wrote of it many times. 20 a month from

one million people.

Quite a revenue.

It was just a dream, didn't work. Helped win the election, now its gone.

Will save us a lot of money each month.

[fadedrose]

68. Is somebody jealous of Dean's popularity? nt

[wyldwolf]

73. Obama's the enemy now

One more in a long line that has sneezed in Dean's direction and brought the wrath of Madfloridian.

lol.

The OP has a long standing hatred of Emanuel because the world put the credit for 2006 at his feet and not Dean's.

Since then, anyone who dares even question Howard Dean is a target.

[AtomicKitten]

75. Obama/DNC do not have the resources to sustain the field offices.

But they do have the organization via the internet to sustain participation. I have no doubt they will re-up field offices well before the 2010 midterm election.

[madfloridian]

76. There could have been resources if we cared about it enough.

Dean's dream was 20 dollars a month from one million Democrats to fund all that was needed.

We did not care enough.

He is getting no mention unless a blogger posts it.

[New Dawn]

78. Leave it to the DLC to destroy the party once again. The DLC is the enemy within.

DLC = GOP.

[wyldwolf]

81. LOL!

"progressives" will always have their myths to drive them to inaction.

[madfloridian]

80. Many people did not want Dean to be chair in the first place.

I was one of them. We felt like they would use him to keep progressives from leaving the party during the last four years. I sort of got over that feeling for a while, but now it is back.

Then we felt they would chew him up and spit him out because he is not and never will be one of them. We have talked of it at DFA.

He may get a cabinet post, he may not.

But he brought this party back to life in many years, and something is not right about how this is being handled.

Matt Bai even wrote an article for the NYT called The Other Winner. Because there was another winner, you know. Though his name is not mentioned.

[madfloridian]

82. Proof from last month. The 50 State plan ends Dec. 1

http://wa-demchairs.org/blog/node/252

"I was informed today by the DNC that the State Partnership Program (50 State Strategy) terminates on December 1. That means that three members of our staff will no longer be paid for by the DNC. They are Wes Beal our Voter File Manager, Patrick Mead our Technology Director, and Erik Horeis our Eastern Washington Organizer.

This was not unexpected. Howard Dean launched the SPP, and his term is about to end. The DNC is under great financial pressure now. I am grateful to Dean and the DNC for the support they have given our Party.

The loss of pay for three staff is a blow to our financial picture for 2009. The year after a Presidential election is the toughest year for fundraising in any four year cycle. At the end of January we will elect our Chair for 2009 – 10. The Executive Committee will approve our budget for 2009 at that meeting.

I have informed Wes, Patrick, and Erik that the Party will continue to employ them through January 2009, but their continued employment will be decided by the Chair and Executive Board in late January."