Howard Dean: "When I ran, that's what began the opening up of the Democratic Party"

[madfloridian]

This is from an interview Howard Dean and Mayor Michael Nutter did with the Daily Pennsylvanian this week.

Daily Pennsylvanian interview with Dean and Michael Nutter

He continues:

HD:It's time for a new generation to come into the Democratic Party, and to reinvigorate the Democratic Party - which has happened. Your generation in 2006 voted 61 percent for the Democratic candidate for congress. So, it's a very diverse generation, it's a multicultural generation; and it's a generation that seeks to bring people together as opposed to driving people apart. Does that sound familiar to you?

I am glad to see him use the words "open up" the party. That is exactly what he has done since he announced his presidential run in 2003 in Burlington.

It is not a popular idea among party insiders, and there are already efforts to minimize the effect he has had on the party.

More from the interview. This statement by Dean wows me. Maybe he realizes that there is great institutional opposition to letting all these new folks into power in the party. Surprised he said it but very glad.

DP: Do you think this spike in youth turnout is just linked to Sen. Obama, or do you think this is across the board, something we're going to see in the future for more students getting involved - blowing all those old records of student participation and youth turnout through the roof?

MN: Certainly, Sen. Obama has been inspirational in that regard, but as Gov. Dean indicated, some of that activity started in the last cycle. But now having these young people actively involved, and seeing what campaigns are about, not only what Democrats do but also listening to the non-sense from the Republicans. I think what you're going to see is continued infusion of youth into the Democratic Party. And when folks stick around, I mean at some point in time, the young people of today just getting involved in the Party, in a relatively short order, they're going to be helping to run the party.

HD: And I want to say one other thing about that: It's important that we make room. And if we don't, I encourage people to just do their own thing, and set up their own organizations. Because in every generational transition, there's always a struggle between those who have the power and those who want the power. We have to make room for these young folks, and I'm solidly on the younger generation's side on this one. And sometimes, if people aren't smart enough to make room, then it's time they did something else.

Words of wisdom. Make room or pay consequences. Thanks for saying that, Howard Dean.

:applause:

[madfloridian]

1. Also interesting comment from Mayor Nutter

"DP: With such significant Democratic registrations in the state, why would you say the polls are still so close in Pennsylvania. Why with all these registrations the polls aren't really shifting toward Obama?

MN: Traditional polling is generally calling people who first and foremost have land-line phones. And young people, increasingly, only have cell phones. To my knowledge, there's no national registry of cell phones. And so these pollsters are not talking to them, the candidates are not talking about them, and they're just out there. But they are paying attention to this election, and they're paying attention to Sen. Obama. So I just don't think you can place a lot of faith in those polls. Second, the Republicans have gone right up to the line …

HD: … and over it …

MN: … they've stepped over it, got chalk on their shoes and went right over the line in some of their tone and their language. It's not a secret in this election that one of the candidates is an African-American. So, there's the subtle, and sometimes less-than-subtle, issue of race."

[Hard Leftt]

52. Dean would have won

Dean would have been a much better candidate, that scream was so overplayed and overdone, as if that made him a lunatic. If Obama doesn't win we should IMMEDIATELY get behind Dean, Hillary is poison and her husband might as well wear a McCain/Palin bumpersticker on his head.

[flamingdem]

2. luv u Howard Dean

[BlueCaliDem]

51. Me too - LUV you Howard Dean! He's right. He opened it up and opened our eyes...

...answering the questions why the Democratic Party always seemed to capitulate to Repub will in Congress, in Florida during the recount...why they didn't back up Al Gore and allowed this gang of corrupt politicians into the WH.

Democrats are all lawyers too! Al Gore wasn't. They knew that if he chose just the few districts it could have been contested. Why didn't any of them warn him?

Because of Howard Dean's courage, he opened up the Democratic Party and the youth's interest in politics but the "old boys" Dems took him down. Hard. They even wanted to refuse him the DNC chairmanship and the DLC of the Democratic Party have been fighting him even since he won it because of us.

We Progressive Democrats who were ready to bail the Democratic party for the Greens, owe Howard Dean our deepest respect and gratitude.

Thanks again, Doctor Dean!

:applause: :loveya: :pals:

[glowing]

3. My mom, in VT, said, "he's a bit nutty, but he's a risk to the status quo

because he's got some really great ideas... I think that's why they made him chairman, so he'd never run again.. he'd shake this country to its core."

[madfloridian]

5. I disagree with your mom....he is outspoken but nothing nutty about him.

He zeroed in on goals for the party.

I sense in his remark that he has a sense of premonition that new folks might be marginalized.

[glowing]

10. That's a compliment from a Vermonter who was is one of many in a long line

of Vermonters to have lived.. When an outsider comes in, and does something ok, but you still don't like that he's an outsider, well, then you call him kooky or nutty, but has "good" ideas.. that makes him ok, even though he's an outsider.. sorry, should explain what it means to be a real Vermonter and an implant.

[madfloridian]

11. I would probably make a better VTer than I do a Floridian.

It's nutty living here. Many make their own reality. :hi:

[glowing]

14. As a former Vermonter living in Florida, yeah, its like living in a mad house.

People make NO sense down here... Perhaps it is too close to the Bermuda Triangle, and the Triangle is disappearing people's brains... Either that, they are suffering from too much sun.. its making them dizzy and foggy.. whatever the reason, Florida is extremely odd... They vote against themselves time and time again.. they trust them most corrupt people to do their bidding.. and then they almost brag about how corrupt they can get or how much money they can milk out of their neighbor... For a state that feaures many fundies, its a state that is predictably filled with the likes of Jeb Bush, Mel Martinez, and don't forget Joe dead intern Scarborough... Up is down, Down is up...

[madfloridian]

18. It IS odd living here.

Just about the time you think we are seeing some waking up...they go right back to where they were before.

Even when they KNOW someone did corrupt things...to many of them it just doesn't matter.

The I-4 Corridor area is very bad about that.

[tavalon]

12. But he's made more of a difference as the head of the DNC than he ever could have

as a President. I was so bummed when he got drummed out but I am so happy having him at the DNC. He has revitalized our party.

[Pete2069]

21. If Dean was president ,, We would not be in this S... Now.

Yes , he has make a difference where he is now..  But just
look at the control and changes he could have made a
president...
The elite are "ALL" against a candidate which would
shake this elite control of our government and it's policies
for corporations.

[dansolo]

59. The establishment was far more fearful of his chairmanship

I disagree with your mom on one thing. They didn't make him chairman, they tried everything they could to block him. As a candidate, he could be marginalized. As chairman, he has actual power to enact changes in the direction of the party.

[BlooInBloo]

You done good, Mr. Dean.

[bleever]

4. Dean's candidacy, followed by his chairmanship, has made this possible.

Even if he isn't gilded by history with the accolades he deserves for serving as the fulcrum that he provided for "ordinary" citizens, via the internet, to make their sheer mass known, and brought to bear upon the national conversation.

[BlooInBloo]

6. We we there, we know.

[madfloridian]

7. He will never get credit....the usual power players will grab it.

It has started already.

[Mind_your_head]

8. Al Gore, John Kerry, Barack Obama......

What a different world we would ALL be living in.

YES, Mr. Obama's time/test is not here/happened yet.....but be 'wise' to what has gone before.

"2000 lawyers and all that BS", etc. I'm not at all hopeful that this election (or selection, as HC said) won't happen AGAIN!

[madfloridian]

9. In a VT interview, he said the first 3 years as chair...the pay was way too much.

But that the last year...there was no way he could have been paid enough. This last year he has sensed the entrenched powers in the party...he has met them face to face.

[Mind_your_head]

13. I hope he 'faces them down'

....and I doubt YOUR claim that 'there was no way he could have been paid enough'

There's a certain 'word' for people who get paid for their "services". I don't believe, at this time that Mr. Dean is of that ilk.

[madfloridian]

16. I think you misunderstood what I posted. I will find the quote.

He was being asked specific questions, there is an audio plus transcript.

Not what he meant. It was meant sort of serious, partly not...in the middle of the primary when he was the target of a campaign and two states.

[madfloridian]

17. I found what I was looking for. I thought your comment was odd.

Like he was whoring out his services. Very strange statement you made.

"Howard Dean is more of an outsider," observes CBS reporter Bob Schieffer.

But the veteran political correspondent says Dean is respected in Washington. "For one thing he is quite candid and has a reputation for that and that's quite rare in the people we deal with in all of these jobs now."

Channel 3 News reporter Kristin Carlson asks, "You followed Dean some on his Presidential run, do you see any differences or similarities with who he is now as head of the DNC?"

Schieffer: "Well... he doesn't scream as much."

Asked if he's having fun, Dean jokes, "That's a little strong for the hours I work and the aggravation. As I've told a lot of people, I was overpaid for the first three years and very underpaid for this year."

Dean is in the middle of an election mess no one predicted. What happens could define his legacy as party chair and he's not ready yet to talk about what's next for him-- it's all about the election.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=8204952&nav=menu183_2

[Kolesar]

22. That's a little disconcerting...eom

[madfloridian]

23. Disconcerting, yes.

His words:

"Asked if he's having fun, Dean jokes, "That's a little strong for the hours I work and the aggravation. As I've told a lot of people, I was overpaid for the first three years and very underpaid for this year."

What was disconcerting was having the former president and his wife telling untruths about him.

Yes, that is most disconcerting.

They scoffed at party rules and said he favored Obama. VERY disconcerting.

[Kolesar]

53. I see a linguistic process where he uses "hot words" to make people angry

And a disingenuous process of not telling the whole story. You know that.

Now I have to get back to something, so I don't have time to develop this further.

[madfloridian]

54. The whole story.

We are seeing the whole story playing out right now. But I don't have time to explore that thought either.

You will just have to guess and ponder.

[Hekate]

15. I love this man. I really do.

:loveya:

Hekate

[madfloridian]

19. The not making room is not just the young people....

There are many of us who don't fit much anymore. He said "if people aren't smart enough to make room"

It goes on here in Florida...not just young people. Loyalties matter as well.

[madfloridian]

20. Let out part of the subject line quote:

"HD: This is your generation. This is the real activist generation. Sort of the baby boom echo. And I think, as I've said before, this is a generational transformation. A generational transition election year. Barack represents your generation even though he's 47. He speaks for your generation in many ways. He's different than my generation. And very much like the JFK election, this is a chance for your generation to begin assuming power.

DP: And what will this mean for future elections?

HD: Well, that already started. When I ran, that's what began the opening up of the Democratic Party. It's time for a new generation to come into the Democratic Party, and to reinvigorate the Democratic Party - which has happened"

[RainDog]

24. thank you, Howard Dean

[defendandprotect]

26. Dean also opened the money track....

where now we have public financing candidates directly ---

BUT STILL NO STRINGS OR LEVERAGE ON THE CANDIDATE RECEIVING IT --

we're givng the wealthy a little run for power, but they still have the strings on

the candidates -- especially in shutting good candidates like Dean out in the

primary --

DLC helped shut down Dean campaign ---

[madfloridian]

27. AND, have you noticed who is not on TV anymore?

And have you noticed who is?

[defendandprotect]

56. I don't really watch TV at all -- not even to monitor it as I used to do --

but in going around channels I have seen Dean once or twice recently --

may have been C-span which has now also long been under GOP thumb as far

as programming other than House/Senate coverage --

I've really been shocked to see quite a bit of Ed Rollins ---!!!

And corp-press doesn't critique itself - so this is never questioned --

[Name removed]

25. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bobbolink]

28. Opened up for many, but the door was and is still shut on poor folk.

:(

[madfloridian]

30. How did Dean hurt the poor?

Wouldn't that be done in congress?

I have a saying, blame the right people.

[bobbolink]

31. Same way as always.. by IGNORING us.

[madfloridian]

32. How did he ignore the poor? Be specific.

I agree Congress has been very remiss....but he has no such role.

[bobbolink]

33. "Be specific"... WHY? I've explained it to you many times, but it doesn't fit with your worship of

Dean, so you get mad and put me on "ignore".

Go ahead.... rather than actually hear what someone has to say, and maybe learn why this party is not doing better than it should be, shoot the messenger.

It wouldn't be the first time.

[RainDog]

34. I've never heard the reasons why Dean is responsible for economic policy

that is the domain of the legislative branch.

So, I'd appreciate a break down of this. How, SPECIFICALLY is Dean responsible for a bad situation for poor people?

I believe it's Bush who could give two shits about anyone but his base, which, as he noted, is the jewel and helmet hair crowd.

Congress makes the laws. Bush has spent far too much time trying to overwrite them.

Dean is responsible for making the DNC relevant to voters, and for getting candidates elected to office. As Gov. Dean made sure that Vermont children had healthcare... that doesn't hurt the poor.

So, yeah, if you want to make a claim like that, you have to back it up with actual facts.

[bobbolink]

35. ???? WHERE did I say that Dean is responsible for economic policy?

If you are actually interested in what I have to say, fine, but I get the impression you're one more who is just looking for a fight, and I'm tired of that when it comes to poverty.

[RainDog]

43. I do not see how you can blame Dean. that's all. I'm asking you to defend the claim

because, honestly, it makes no sense to me.

[bobbolink]

45. Are you actually willing to step back and listen so it WILL make sense to you?

[RainDog]

47. yes. why are you wasting all this space blaming other democrats? explain yourself.

[bobbolink]

57. Great listening, there.

I can tell you're so very interested.

And you wonder why the race is so close.

Look in the mirror.

[madfloridian]

36. I am waiting for you to explain how Dean hurt the poor

when he is not in a position to do so?

[bobbolink]

37. I've been waiting a very long time for you to be willing to actually hear.

As I said, and I will repeat, I've explained it to you many times, and you keep choosing to fight rather than to listen.

Your choice.

[madfloridian]

38. Please explain it.

.

[bobbolink]

39. Again?

Why would this be any different?

Have you changed your mind on being willing to hear?

On being willing to care?

[madfloridian]

40. You are saying I don't care about the poor?

Please reconsider that. I think you know better. You need to read some of my posts.

[bobbolink]

41. Come on..... stop trying to pick a fight.

I've asked you repeatedly to be willing to listen and to hear and to care.

That's really not so hard to do, is it?

[madfloridian]

42. This is sad.

.

[bobbolink]

44. You're right... it's very sad. Poor people ignored by the very party who welcome them in previous

generations.

The rest of the party NOT WILLING to hear how it feels to be ignored and left out.

Sad indeed.

:cry:

[RainDog]

46. if you don't explain yourself, how is anyone supposed to take you seriously?

and honestly, do you think Clinton cared so much about the poor? republicans hated him because they said he was the best republican president ever.

so, yeah, you have to explain yourself or else you just sound like someone who is trying to smear Dean.

[madfloridian]

50. Whenever I post something about Dean...which I will CONTINUE to do..

There are about 5 people who can not be nice about it. Two of them are in this thread.

It is because he represents a new way of doing things in the party.

[bobbolink]

58. Oh, yes,Clinton was just wonderful.

How many died because of his welfare deform?

He didn't even care enough to track the results.

Yes, just wonderful.

If you're telling me I can't critique Democrats, then you have some serious issues with the concept of democracy.

[RainDog]

61. good grief. you don't say ANYTHING about the issues

but tell me if you can't critique democrats...

the problem is that you have not provided ANY actual critique other than a statement that has nothing to back it up. look at this thread. look at post after post from you - and NONE OF THEM has anything of substance to say about your claim. NONE.

I was asking you to provide some sort of reality to back up your claim and you still cannot do it.

What a joke to tell me I have issues with the concept of democracy when the entire point is that you need to show some sort of proof for your claims, which you have not done.

I'm finished with this. It's a waste of time. If you had anything worthwhile to say, you could have said it ten times by now.

I'm not going to waste my time on your persecution complex. You have nothing to say.

[bobbolink]

62. I no longer reply to people who only want to bash.

Adopt a decent tone, and show that you are actually willing to HEAR, and it will be different.

But telling me I can't complain about democrats is completely undemocratic.

[bemildred]

29. Howard Rules.

Obama says so.

[fishwax]

48. k/r for Dean!

:applause:

:kick:

[RainDog]

49. ...

[xxqqqzme]

55. Makes sense to me.

The good Doctor Dean and I share a birth year. I recently decided that this will be my last term as a county central committee member and CDP executive board. Time to give those spots to younger activist so the party can continue to grow.

[happygoluckytoyou]

60. DEAN OPENED THE PARTY...HILLARY TAUGHT US TO FIGHT..... now we just have to WIN