Dean and Kucinich had good points about Dem impotence last night

[Larkspur]

"The problem is that we empowered the president to run roughshod over us in the last election because nobody stood up to him on the October vote," Dr. Dean said.

Later, he added, "The minute you're willing to say whatever it is to get elected, you lose, because the people in America are not nearly as dumb as the people in Washington think we are."

Referring to Mr. Gephardt, Mr. Kucinich said, "The reason why people don't trust the Democrats is because our Democratic leadership stood with the president in the Rose Garden, and now stands on this stage and attacks him on the war."
from New York Times Democratic Candidates Single Out Clark in Debate
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/10/politics/campaigns/10DEMS.html?pagewanted=2

Both Dean and Kucinich hit the problem on the head -- we have a leadership crisis in the Dem Party and it's of the Dem leaders own making. I also think that the Dem Party is more scared of losing than they are of building a plan to win and part of that plan is to engage the Dem base, not take it for granted.

[rucky]

1. Yep! Tough Democrats with Real Solutions

My top choices for that very reason. Add Sharpton, too.

I seriously think we should push for Sharpton to lead the DNC ASAP!

[quispquake]

3. Nope...Sharpton for White House Press Secretary!!!

He'd run RINGS around the mediawhores...I for one wouldn't miss it!

[JNelson6563]

7. that is what I say too

I would love to see Sharpton as Press Secretary!!!

Julie

[placton]

2. I do disagree with one point

"because the people in America are not nearly as dumb as the people in Washington think we are."

The American people are really JUST as dumb as the bigwigs think we are:
-California
-Texas
-Shrub
-70%: "Yeah, Saddam was in on 9-11"

let's face it, we have given our country away thanks to the moron-Americans.

let's also face it: what these Dem candidates were saying is bull - I can't believe they really think US citizens are not dumb as a box of rocks (and proud of it!)

[info being]

4. right

it's a nice idea to say that the American people can't be fooled...but take a look around.

All this talk about making war obsolete...shit the American people want blood.

[JohnKleeb]

6. Of course some idiots are gullable and warhawks

If thats the case lets just have Bush again :shrug:. We gotta make war obsolete, hes right, theres been so many wars since my birth in 1987. Its a shame how war is more and more common.

[CWebster]

5. That may have been for the benefit of the Democratic base

that many of the other Dem insider candidates assumed were dumb but were in for a rude surprise when their pandering votes cost them credibility with the voting base.

[DebJ]

8. the worst manner in which Americans are dumb...

is by not voting at all.  30% turnout of just the registered
voters means the American people failed to do anything at all,
failed to speak...worst choice of all

[mlawson]

9. I suspect that many who voted for Ah-nuld had never voted before.

But they were activated by his celeb status, which is a frightenly stupid reason for voting for him. I hope these people never vote again; chances are, they will forget about it next time.

[blm]

11. Just like the "disaffected" voters who went for Perot in 92.

The "disaffected" voters are the type who have helped fuck up this country with their demand to be entertained by a politician on their terms.

[mandyky]

10. One of the things that attracted me to Dean,

from day one, was his speech at the DNC winter meeting - "What I wanna know is.." and Democrats need to take back the party. Oddly enough, or maybe not, at the Fall meeting of the DNC, he raised the ante, even though he has given more "mainstream candidates" cover to dissent from dumbya, he reapplied pressure on Democrats to stand for something so that the 50% of Americans who don't vote, have a reason to vote. This man has major cojones!