Florida delegation to DNC unanimously backs Dean....

[madfloridian]

This stunned me.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/18/politics/18dems.html

SNIP."The Florida delegation to the Democratic National Committee has voted unanimously to endorse Howard Dean to be the party's next chairman, bucking an effort to orchestrate an endorsement of one candidate by all 50 state party leaders at the same time later this month.

The decision, announced yesterday by Scott Maddox, the Florida Democratic chairman, is a major lift for Dr. Dean, a former governor of Vermont, and it is a shift in a contest where most Democrats have been holding back from endorsing any candidate in the crowded field.


The only knock against Howard Dean is that he's seen as too liberal," Mr. Maddox said. "I'm a gun-owning pickup-truck driver and I have a bulldog named Lockjaw. I am a Southern chairman of a Southern state, and I am perfectly comfortable with Howard Dean as D.N.C. chair."

"What our party needs right now is energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to do things differently," he said. "I think Howard Dean brings all three of those things to the party."

[MissB]

1. He's right, of course

He is what our party needs. Right. Now.

[dolstein]

2. Why does this shock you?

It's not as if the DNC delegation from Florida is a mirror image of Florida Democratic voters, much less the entire voting population of Florida.

[madfloridian]

6. Because it is Maddox saying it.

Dean was not his favorite person to say the least last year. For him to say these things shows a change in mindset, bigtime.

[dolstein]

9. Did he really have any choice?

Maddox is the chair of the state party. He probably wouldn't have opposed the wishes of a majority of DNC representatives from his state party even if he preferred another candidate (and who's the say he didn't?) Obviously, once the die was cast, he had every reason to put the best possible spin on the result.

[jpgray]

34. Who's putting his best possible spin on this result?

:)

[ClarkUSA]

50. Is Maddox's mindset really changed?

Or is it just a reflection of what he said he thinks the Party needs from a DNC Chair?

Versus a DNC nominee for President?

[madfloridian]

51. Maddox was a Kerry man, probably still is.

.

[Cha]

54. That's right! I just flashed back to the

primaries and remembered how maddox was carrying on against Dean.

That was then and this is now..a lot of people have reconciled their differences with Dean to endorse him for DNC Chair!

And this is what Dean wants to do for our Country and party..so I'm all for it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. It does not stun me

do you go to Democracy for America Meetups?

If you do... Dean sent the message, INFILTRATE the party... at all levels...

Methinks we are having some successs... hey the DLC is trying to restablish control... per WaPo the other day

Oh and by the way

HI

[Dr.Phool]

4. Thats Great

I got an e-mail the other day from one of our DNC members, and repied with a thank you, and way to go!

And that's probably the first smart thing I've heard out of Scott Maddox's mouth.


Edited to add remarks about Maddox.

[flyarm]

25. im with you dr phool!!

i agree 100%..
i got this copy the other day and it was sent to scott maddox...i have removed the dnc member senders name and phone number...scott knows a change and drastic is needed for him to run and be sucessful for governor...and he knows it wont happen with evote and optical scan..so he needs a change in dnc leadership to get the reform nessesary..and dean is just the man!



15 January 2005


Honorable Scott Maddox, Chair

Florida Democratic Party

Post Office Box 1758

Tallahassee, Florida 32302-1758



Dear Scott:



After thoughtful consideration I have decided to announce my support for Howard Dean for National Party Chair. On 12 February 2005, when the Democratic National Committee meets in Washington I intend to vote for Howard Dean throughout the balloting.



I made this decision for a number of reasons. First, I believe Dean brings to the party a number of enthusiastic field workers who will help reform the party and make it more active in our local communities; second, Dean was innovative in raising funds through the internet and internet fundraising helped offset Bush’s gigantic financial edge among the largest donors; third, the Democratic National Committee needs a serious shakeup, it is fabulous as a money raising and funnel vehicle, so that it begins to focus on winning elections throughout the entire country (including the so-called “red” states; and, fourth, he has been tested as a spokesman at the national level, has not given up and still wants to contribute.



There are some among us that fear Dean as National Chair because they think this will give the Republicans an advantage. I have yet to meet a single voter who in the Presidential cycles I have been involved in (starting with Humphrey in 1968) that has ever mention that they are voting a particular way because of who the national party chair is.



So, I am writing to let you know what I plan to do and am encouraging my fellow DNC members to support Dean.



Hotline has polled some of the DNC members. The results are provided below.



If you have any questions, please either call me at

xxxxxxx or write me at your convenience.



With respect,

I am,


xxxxxx Member

Democratic National Committee

1st Choice for DNC Chair Percent DNC Members

Howard Dean 31 58
Martin Frost 16 30
Tim Roemer 4 8
Donnie Fowler 4 7
Wellington Webb 2 4
Simon Rosenberg 2 4
David Leland 1 1
Undecided/Refused Answer 40 75

2nd Choice for DNC Chair Percent DNC Members

Martin Frost 11 20
Howard Dean 9 16
Donnie Fowler 7 13
Wellington Webb 7 13
Simon Rosenberg 6 11
David Leland 2 4
Tim Roemer 2 3
Undecided/Refused Answer 58 107

Combined 1st/2nd Choices Percent DNC Members

Howard Dean 40 74
Martin Frost 27 50
Tim Roemer 11 20
Donnie Fowler 8 15
Wellington Webb 8 15
Simon Rosenberg 6 11
David Leland 3 5

Last Choice for DNC Chair Percent DNC Members

Tim Roemer 16 29
Howard Dean 11 21
Simon Rosenberg 6 12
Martin Frost 4 7
Donnie Fowler 4 7
David Leland 3 5
Wellington Webb 2 4
Undecided/Refused Answer 54



fly from pinellas

[madfloridian]

5. "bucking an effort to orchestrate an endorsement of one candidate"

Wonder who that would be? All 50 endorse one candidate? That would have been something.

I must email Mr. Maddox my apology for getting upset with him when he blasted Howard Dean in the NY Times On edit: last year that was.

[madfloridian]

42. Can anyone figure what was meant by this...which "one candidate"?

This is puzzling me. Which one would they get behind instead of Dean, and who is leading the push to get "one candidate" endorsed by all?

Frost? Roemer?

[DaveinMD]

7. this may shock you too

I am supporting him as well as were most of the Clark people I know locally. A party shake up is desperately needed and he can build the party.

[autorank]

8. Prediction.

I'll bet that if Dean's selected as DNC Chair he heads South for a tour in a pick up truck. This would be just brilliant and would keep his promise to talk to everybody.

When he made the comment about wanting every vote, including guys in pick ups, he was unfairly criticized re: the flag issue. Well, those people vote. I'm not a wanna be red neck and I don't like the Confederate flag. I would like my party to reach out to everybody regardless of what decals they have in on their cars/trucks. That way everybody wins.

Go Howard and thank you Mr. Maddox and "Lockjaw" for the endorsement.

[DaveinMD]

10. he shouldn't have put the flag in that statement

it pissed off African Americans because of the symbolism the flag carries. But I agree with everything he meant to say about those voters. Getting rid of the gun issue is a big part of appealing to those voters. Dean understood that because Vermont is very pro gun as well.

[Eloriel]

61. It didn't piss off all African Americans -- here's proof

Confederate Flap: Stand Firm, Howard Dean
by Constance L. Rice
http://www.commondreams.org/scriptfiles/views03/1106-08.htm

Jesse Jackson Jr. also understood PERFECTLY what Dean was saying -- and had been saying for a good year -- and wrote a column too. I don't happen to have that link (tho I'd like to if anyone does).

Sharpton, with Edwards' help, was able to manufacture s brouhaha about it, but Dean had not only been saying exactly that for about a year if not longer, he'd also said it at a DNC meeting and got a standing ovation over it.

[dolstein]

11. Dean in a pickup truck is like Dukakis in a tank

It would look phony and the PR fallout would be embarrassing. The last thing Dean should to is try to pose as a good 'ol boy.

[Dr.Phool]

16. Have you ever seen Janet Reno? She drives a pick-up.

[demwing]

21. But Janet Reno IS a good ol boy

did I say that? O8)

I mean, she even broke through a brick wall on SNL. If she didn't drive a truck I would be surprised. One.Tough.AG

On Edit: What IS the female equivalent of a Good Ol Boy?

Good Ol Girl just doesn't sound right...

[madfloridian]

22. A red pick up truck, too.

She's a fine lady.

[autorank]

28. Heard a great story about her greeting the press.

Apparently she has some land around her home. Some press people walked up to get an interview and she greeted them with a shotgun! haha She knew.

[autorank]

19. Respectfully disagree. He's from VT, a very rural state.

Lots of pick ups, off road vehicles, guns, hunting. What's the big deal. Dean does hunt, hell, he should get a gun rack. I do agree about the Dukakis tank thing though. What a disaster.

[Cha]

56. My thoughts exactly..Dean was a

Vermont Dr before he got into politics. Dean driving a truck is normal as him tapping a maple tree.. Dean is the one that is always trying to save money.

[w4rma]

36. I doubt Dean would do that: He does everything as inexpensively as he

can and that would create extra costs.

[moggie12]

13. That is a brilliant idea about him driving through the south

in a pick-up truck no less. That's exactly the kind of visual, attention-grabbing thing the Dems need to do.

That Dean was unfairly criticized for many things is just now becoming apparent to many (me included -- I wan't a fan until recently).

[autorank]

20. Hi moogie12. Needs to be a used pick up. It would be great & fun.

I think I remember you from an election fraud thread which was quite good and you made a number of good points. I just read this post which answers a question about previous exit polls (USA) and presidential election results. If it's another moogie, this is still interesting.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=287695&mesg_id=287695

[moggie12]

32. Ha! Yes, that was me..

That was my first ever OP on DU! Little did I realize I was stepping into such a contentious issue (clothes still smoldering from being flamed for some of the things I said and the way I said them). Thanks for the exit poll data!

[autorank]

37. You acquitted your self quite well. You had a good point and

I believe that this information elaborates it. Subsequent threads will be easier and more fun I'm sure.

[DFLforever]

12. And unlike some on DU, Maddox claims Florida is a Southern state!

Kind of puts a hole in the idea that Dean hasn't support in the South.

[madfloridian]

14. Ah, yes, it does, doesn't it?

I must remember to forgive Mr. Maddox first thing tomorrow.

[RogueTrooper]

40. Have you spoken to him before mf?

I am sure he is about to be overwhelmed with warm wishes from Dean supporters.

[madfloridian]

43. I just wrote him a thank you, said to give Lockjaw a milk bone for us.

He spoke out against Dean during the primaries, along with Art Torres, in the NYT. I had my say, but I guess he has redeemed himself for the moment.

Sounds to me like they were being pressured to adopt one candidate, all 50 states. Maybe they did not like that.

I think they got a lot of letters beforehand, too. :evilgrin:

[Warpy]

15. I don't know why it should be a big shock

We all know that the Democrats need to do something different. If the DLC stays in power, they'll just continue to lose elections until there are none left to lose.

Dean is far from perfect, but he's one of the few Democrats of any stature to stand up against these damned fools and call them like they are: globalist, corporatist, antilabor LOSERS who are pushing the party into right wing irrelevancy.

That delegations from a southern state are in favor of his chairmanship should be no surprise at all. This isn't a regional problem, folks. Although the south and midwest are nominally conservative, they have all elected economic populist Democrats to state office in the recent past.

That the DLC has failed to take note of this means that they should be ousted from the center of party politics, the sooner the better. Bravo to the Florida delegation for noticing this.

[buddysmellgood]

18. The thing about Howard is that he does not have to be perfect. He has

an organization behind him that truly has his back. The organization makes me feel like there is hope.

[wabeewoman]

24. And he has a whole lot of people

who never stopped believing in him even or especially after watching the media assassination.

[buddysmellgood]

26. I think the scream should become a rallying cry. I say we own it and wear

it with pride. Let em know we don't give a shit what they say, we are on a roll.

[lyonn]

60. Dean's reality scream

Yesterday, probably on Democracy Now, they played the tape of the scream with the crowd noises in the background. You couldn't hear Dean! Thanks MSM. They ruined a perfectly good candidate and Terry Mc apparently couldn't get the real scene of that night replayed properly. We need someone that can make the media listen up. Dean can do it.

[autorank]

29. Well, he needs to do some vetting.

Zephyr Teachout (or whatever the heck her name is) and Trippi were indiscreet and ineffective. Dean was the entire show. He raised money and got attention because of his Harry Truman-like stands and his spirit. These two are not the type of staff he needs. He needs people with street smarts and basic loyalty, not some elitist on a mission to help the less fortunate or a consultant that can't control spending.

I'm sure he learned his lesson from these two. He's a very smart guy.

He would be awesome and...it would upset CM (corporate media).

[Cha]

57. I hope he has some friends and co-workers now

who will be with him for the long haul..with the same winning visions.

[madfloridian]

62. There is a good staff at DFA.

Good quality people, many of whom were with Gore or in the Clinton WH as advisors.

[stopbush]

23. Our *perfect* candidates continue to crash and burn in the GE.

I'm more than willing to take a chance on an imperfect guy with guts and an in-your-face approach to politics.

Hell, if Dean hadn't played dignified front runner in the primaries, he could have easily won the nomination. But HE made the classic mistake all of our guys make: when victory's in sight, move to the center, take the base for granted and lose the election trying to broaden your appeal to a non-existant voter group, the moderate DINO.

Screw that. I'm on board with the Doctor if he gets the top position.

[Dr.Phool]

17. Maddox is also lining up his ducks.

He wants to run for Governor next year.

[madfloridian]

30. I heard that....and Bud Chiles, too.

Should be interesting.

[Justitia]

27. Yea! We LOVE Howard Dean here in Texas! Come back Gov!

HUGE crowds gathered for Dean every time he has come here.
Hell, DFA is having DemocracyFest in AUSTIN this summer.

Howard Dean could show up in a pick up or a wheelbarrow, he's ALWAYS welcome in The Lone Star State, where being a bold, brazen Dem is the stuff legends are made of (Sam Rayburn, Henry B Gonzalez, Ann Richards, Sheila Jackson Lee, etc...).

:bounce:

[XemaSab]

46. Jim Hightower

n/t

[Cha]

58. Molly Ivins!

:toast: to all Texas Dems! We Love Ya'll!

[flordehinojos]

31. good! it is time we stop pussy-footing around andshow ourselves for who we

really are... progressive people with liberal minds and a liberal agenda! You go Dr. Dean!

[sendero]

33. Finally...

.... some good news from Florida.

[jpgray]

35. Hopefully this will be a trend

I don't imagine many DNC members will buy the "loony liberal" line, especially since Dean put in many years with the DLC and even chaired the Governor's association--his record is thoroughly moderate. If that's all they have to level at him he's in good shape.

[Cheswick2.0]

41. his record is not thoroughly moderate

it's a mix. He left the DLC years ago. He may be moderate on many things but he is also liberal. I find it terribly amusing that you keep trying to say differently.

[jpgray]

45. What's he liberal on?

No to gay marriage, fair trade, and repealing the Patriot Act / NAFTA. Supported sending nuclear waste to NV, undermined VT environmental laws and regs to pander to IBM. Supported a marginally superior war resolution--written in part by moderate egotist Joe Biden--that also ceded Congressional authority to declare war, giving the president sole discretion. He won't touch the bloated Pentagon budget, and doesn't support national health care.

Sounds moderate to me. Keep in mind I don't think Kerry is particularly liberal either. I would say Dean is liberal on media consolidation, and grassroots support and organization. Not a whole lot else, though he was smarter and more pragmatic than other Dems on a lot of issues (IWR being a very significant indication of that good judgment), that doesn't make him a liberal.

[cali]

48. Aaarrghh, anyone's record can be twisted

No to gay rights. Hardly. Dean supported enacting legislation enabling gays and lesbians to adopt. He supported hate crime laws protecting the GLBT community. When the democratic Senate President and the democratic Speaker of the House asked him to delay the civil union vote until the next season because they were afraid of blowback, he told them no dice, it's a civil rights issue and the right thing to do.

Fair Trade, Yucca Mountain and NAFTA. Dean was a Governor, not a Rep or Senator. He was addressing those issues from that position. I don't agree with him on those stances, but it is worth noting that once on the National scene, he modified them.
Still, it's fair to state that when he was Governor he was a moderate on those issues.

Undermined Vermont's environment, and pandered to IBM. Not so fast. Dean has a pretty good environmental record. In his 11 years as Governor, Vt maintained it's superior record of environmental protection. Yes, he tried to give IBM some tax breaks, but he hardly gave away the store. IBM was none too pleased with him. Dean consistently supported act 250 and pushed the Champion land deal in the Northeast Kingdom, including it's controversial core conservation area.

The war. Dean spoke out early and often about the perils of the Iraq war. It's on the record.

So where is he liberal? He supports expanding health care to most of the uninsured. He's liberal on issues regarding pre-natal care, and children. He's liberal when it comes to abortion rights, including no to parental notification and so-called partial birth abortions. In fact, he has an excellent record on all women's issues.

Dean is primarily neither a moderate or a liberal. He's a mix of both. He is a populist, in the Vermont tradition. Here you can't avoid what the voters say and think. We expect you to show up in small settings and to listen to us. And they do.

[jpgray]

49. All fair points

But based on the totality, if I had to peg him, I would peg him as a populist, pragmatic moderate. I would call Kucinich a liberal without hesitation, but I wouldn't call Dean a liberal. I wouldn't call Kerry a liberal either. These labels aren't very good because they mean different things to different people, and you're right about the record of a politician--if all I knew about Dennis was that he supported the flag amendment and his record on abortion, I wouldn't call him a liberal. Dean deserves plenty of praise for seeing Bush's war case for what it was--a lot of hot air. Kerry made some embarrassing statements on the day of the IWR vote which revealed he bought into (or pretended to buy into) a lot of that nonsense. Dean conceded that Saddam probably had weapons, but wasn't convinced the case had been made that he certainly had them and war was necessary. That was a very good way to look at the whole affair. Kerry consistently said that Bush needed to go to war as a last resort, etc., but the lack of questioning on the WMD evidence, or at least expression of significant doubt, is another good contrast with Dean.

[cali]

52. I wouldn't disagree with your assessment.

I just think we'd all be a lot better off if we recognized that labels, although convenient and good for shorthand, aren't terribly accurate.

[WI_DEM]

38. This is an excellent endorsement from a key state

hopefully it will add to further momentum.

[madfloridian]

39. Lockjaw made Wonkette blog.

http://www.wonkette.com/politics/dc/daily-briefing-i-have-a-bulldog-named-lockjaw-edition-029948.php

[buddhamama]

44. agree-

"What our party needs right now is energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to do things differently," he said. "I think Howard Dean brings all three of those things to the party."

YEP! :bounce:

[David Zephyr]

55. Hey Baby!

I'm with you.

[XemaSab]

47. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAARGH!

N/T

[lookinforward]

53. The Lockjaw quote can combat the scream...

"The only knock against Howard Dean is that he's seen as too liberal," Mr. Maddox said. "I'm a gun-owning pickup-truck driver and I have a bulldog named Lockjaw. I am a Southern chairman of a Southern state, and I am perfectly comfortable with Howard Dean as D.N.C. chair."

This is the greatest quote, and this quote should be used to counteract the Right Wing Noise machine that says he is too far left.

Dean, although he has some history of being a centrist, has demonstrated that he can excite the progressive base. So we can have loud voices saying that Dean's record shows centrism, thereby nuetralizing right wing attacks while at the same time exciting our progressive base.

There is a reason that Club for Growth and Grover Normquist fought Dean in Iowa. They are afriad of him. There is a reason that the Republican operative had Sharpton attack Dean before Iowa.

This is documented here. http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0405,barrett,50745,1.html

See some of my commentary here. http://lookinforward.blogspot.com/2005/01/progressive-movement-and-democratic.html

[Cha]

59. Welcome to DU, lookinforward..

I liked your commentary..

"Also there is a great great article in the Washinton Monthly about the failure of Democratic political consultants and the fact they continue to get hired! For me, it relates to having Dean head the DNC rather than a beltway consultant."

We're not the only ones who noticed this!