Revitalizing state's Democratic Party goal of Chairman Dowdy

[TacticalPeek]

July 18, 2004

Revitalizing state's Democratic Party goal of Chairman Dowdy

* Dems hope to shake image of no organization

By Bill Minor
Special to The Clarion-Ledger

snip

Protest rallies at the Capitol and around the state, together with news coverage devoted to the Medicaid cutoff, have focused attention of Mississippians that Democratic state lawmakers, especially the House, opposed the Medicaid cuts while Republicans backed them.

"This has done more than anything to emphasize the image of what Democrats have always stood for," said Dowdy as he took over the party chaimanship from Rickey Cole.

"We are the party which looks out for the needs of people, the little people, and Mississippians should be reminded of our core values," the 60-year-old Dowdy declared.

Four elderly couples recently visited him in his McComb law office distraught over losing their Medicaid drugs, he said. "All of them voted for Barbour, and now they wish they had their vote back," Dowdy added.

snip

"We just might surprise some people in Mississippi in November," he added.

more
http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040718/OPINION/407180311/1200

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I'm a sucker for hope.

:)

[Rowdyboy]

1. I enjoyed this piece with my coffee this morning

I really respect Wayne Dowdy and am awfully tempted to email him and volunteer my services. He's a really good man.

[ashling]

2. Wayne Dowdy is a great guy.

I am glad to see that he is chairman of the party. He is the guy to revitalize the party for sure! We have that problem in Texas, too -Don't underestimate Texas Democrats.

I attended a fundraiser for Wayne in Wash DC and was at another one where they rolled out that ad that Lott turned back on him. It was a pretty good ad, and then the Lott ad came out with the black state trooper saying he was nobody's chaufer (Ouch!)

I had lost track of him. I'll have to tell my wife - she is from Morton.

You should definitely volunteer.

[MISSDem]

15. How can you respect Dowdy after he failed to rebut the statement

from the Republican who said, in a public speech where Dowdy was in attendance, that John Kerry supported gay marriage?

[flaminbats]

3. Nice to have a chairman who sets both long-term and short-term goals..

When Musgrove was elected Governor in 1999, Democrats were succeeding at their short-term objectives. But unlike Mississippi Republicans, Democratic leaders had not set any longterm goals. As a result Mississippi Democrats lost a Congressional seat in 2002, the Governorship in 2003, and the Lt. Governorship to a politician they never should have trusted.

What should be the short-term objectives of Mississippi Democrats?

IMO they should include..

1) Helping local candidates to win back the state Senate in 2004.

2) Actively recruiting candidates for Congress and the Senate in 2006.

3) Forming a political coalition with the Mississippi Reform Party to become an equal force in state politics as the Republicans.

What should be the long-term objectives of Mississippi Democrats?

1) Recruiting popular candidates to defeat the Governor and Lt. Governor in 2007.

2) Taking advantage of the changing demographics in Mississippi to once again become the dominant party. With an aging population, and Hispanics and blacks becoming more politically active..Democrats in Mississippi should be unbeatable in another five or ten years.

3) Make voters in Mississippi proud to be Democrats. This will only happen if Democrats win control in state and local government.

[wyethwire]

4. Have you heard of SouthPac?

It is a mississippi based political action committee that supports Southern Democrats.

[flaminbats]

9. I have now..

nice website, I love everything except for the references to John Stennis. The Democratic Party in Mississippi cannot make a comeback by embracing the ghosts of Stennis or Wallace.

Instead the success of Democrats in Arkansas and Louisiana should show all Democrats in the south that victory in the south is still possible! Democrats in Georgia still hope that Sam Nunn can get them elected in Georgia, or that Bob Graham can anoint Castor in Florida. :eyes:

[MISSDem]

5. They have some work to do. In DeSoto county there is

absolutely nothing being done by the Democratic Party as to the presidential election. As far as I know, there is no official location to even pick up a bumper sticker for Kerry. How sad! There are Democrats here and they would help if there was just a little encouragement but without that the Dems feel alone and like they are the only one in a sea of Republicans and so they just do nothing.

[Maddy McCall]

6. In the southern part of the state, we are hopping.

DeSoto Dems need to get busy. Blame them for not organizing and staying linked to the state org. But don't blame the state org.

[MISSDem]

12. The head of the Democratic party in DeSoto County said

that he "was going to sit this one out". How pro active!

[eris]

13. Its my understanding that the headquarters here in Oxford

were the only Kerry headquarters in the area. I know there isn't one in Tupelo or Batesville.

As many Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker and yard signs as I've been seeing here in Oxford I'd say Kerry will do well here. Especially considering how big a problem we have with theft of Kerry stickers and signs here.

Also, I know of a few older WWII vets who have always been Repub who will be voting for Kerry. Wouldn't it be cool if we shocked the nation and went BLUE!!! :bounce:

[Hosnon]

7. Help Needed

Just moved to Jackson from Georgia for MC Law. I need some general information on the Dem. Party. Plus, is anyone planning on going to FL this weekend?

[Maddy McCall]

8. What kind of info do you need?

I can probably provide information and contacts for you. If not, I can find out, if I know what you need.

[Hosnon]

10. Nothing in particular, I

just want to get involved here. Pretty much any party will do this go-round except the Republicans.

Recommend judges to help? Candidates? Where is the Dem. HQ?

[SSX]

11. hope this helps

The Dem Hdqtrs is on Congress St. (left off Fortification) a good listing of candidate bios is at Jackson Free Press Web site-http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/politics/

[kgchis]

14. Community Service

I hope Dowdy can turn things around. However, I feel that many of the local dem groups should seariously look at Community Service as ways to expand contact with people and win them back.

[Phil214]

16. Take Heart, The Younger Generation Is Waking Up!

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004//pages/results/states/MS/P/00/epolls.0.html">CNN's Voter Survey for Mississippi says Kerry got SIXTY-THREE percent of Mississippi's 18-29 year old vote!!! :wow:

The African-American vote was not enough to yield THAT high a figure, I can assure you of that!!!

:toast: To Generation Y!!!!

I cannot WAIT for the next 20 years to come along!!!!! All we have to do is keep up the momentum and the Hard Core Republican's days are numbered in this state!!!!! :dem: and another :kick: for the 2024 Elections!!!!

[Selatius]

17. As a College Democrat at MSU

I can assure you I, as well as the rest of us here, did my little part to get out the vote. The 63% vote is pretty astounding though. I was always more sober in my assessments and looked at the big picture where Democratic support was somewhere in the lower 40s range. I was happy with that number at the end of the day. At least it wasn't in the low 30s.