Do you support Howard Dean for DNC chair

[Clarkie1]

Poll question: Do you support Howard Dean for DNC chair

I think Howard Dean would be the best choice for DNC chair because of his ability to energize the grassroots, populist persona, and ability to coordinate effective fundraising.

In fact, I really think Dean deserves the postition if he wants it because of what he did to energize the democratic base early in the primary season. A lot of people here seem to have the same opinion, and I am curious if a poll would confirm that. So here's the poll.

[Turn CO Blue]

1. I support him for his enthusiasm, organizing and fund-raising

skills - and I support him over the other bland, tepid, repub-lite choices presented thus far.

[googly]

41. Hear Hear n/t

[IStriker]

64. Definitely! If we allow some of these other people...

that the Clintons want to install like they did McAuliffe, we will be just where we have been for the past three elections. This time, fund raising is not even as important as it has always been since the 527's are putting up the most of the money the DNC used to have to raise.

[PassingFair]

78. I think this is the most popular petition... why not let the DNC know

how we feel?

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deanfordnc

[DeepGreen]

2. And, I think he would be the least likely to bend to the DLC nt

[Placebo]

3. Absolutely not. Do you really want our DNC chair...

to have this image of them cemented in the minds of the public?



This is how most people see him, it's sad but true. We can do better. Why not find someone with less baggage? Someone who can build a positive public persona, not reinforce a pre-existing one?

[DeepGreen]

4. Who would you go for ? nt

I understand what you are saying.
Can you suggest a couple alternatives?

[Clarkie1]

5. I don't think that's really an issue

In fact, I don't think 99.999% of the voting population thinks about who the DNC chair is when they cast their vote.

When you consider someone for a job, you have to consider the strength they bring to that particular position. The people who care about these perceptions of Dean will interpret it as energy, enthusiasm, and drive. Those are three qualities we need in a DNC chair.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. You read my mind...........

[DeepGreen]

10. Do you think the repugs would jump on it

and try their best to discredit/smear him as well as the party?
They do have a large media base.

[sonicx]

14. like they wouldn't anyway?

If Jesus Christ was the chair, Republicans would smear him too.

[DeepGreen]

16. You are right. Screw the repugs,,,, I do like Dean's passion and courage !

I can't think of anyone else at this time, that
would do a better job.

[hiley]

37. they sure would

and besides they are frightened of Howard Dean and he has the balls so I would love him to have the power.

[BrklynLiberal]

15. Why would they treat him any differently than any other candidiate.

I personally believe that they were afraid of him and undermined his candidacy because they thought he had the best chance to best Bush.

[Clarkie1]

18. I don't think that's really an issue (am I sounding like a broken record?)

People aren't going to decide who to vote for in 06' or 08' based on who the party chairperson is, but who the party chairperson is can affect the energy and effectiveness of the party overall by energizing and coordinating the base, getting out the vote, and raising $$$.

That's something Dean has proven he is very effective at doing.

[DeepGreen]

28. A broken record,, not at all.

You make sense and communicate well! I respect that.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. I love that image.. Hi energy, dynamic, enthusiastic, passionate, all

characteristics that are sorely missiing in all the other Democratic possibilities...
The negatives that you imply are just spin created by the Repugnant controlled press.

[sonicx]

12. like who?

btw, most people in America aren't going to care who's DNC chair. Mostly just political types like us.

[Jim Sagle]

32. Dean RRRRRRRRAWWWWWWWWWKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

34. Don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel....

[w13rd0]

46. Yeah, lord forbid...

...the public see us as fighters, chaired by someone who recognized the wrongness of Bush's policies and who stated truths weeks before they became public knowledge.

The world has not been made safer by Saddams capture.
Planned poorly, executed incompetently, a war of choice with the wrong commander in chief.
We have to get people to vote their interests, because the guy in the pickup truck needs health care and wants a good education for their kids too.
The voting machines are a cause for concern.
...and on...and on...

Perhaps having someone chair the party who can see clearly would help plan for the future more effectively. Would Dean have advised party members to "vote for the war and get it off the table so they could discuss economic issues"? Would Dean have compressed the primary process and thus left the nominee completely open to attack without adequate opportunity for response for the entire month of August? (btw, that's when the Swift Boats launched their attack...you think that was coicidental?)

Thine chip is bloated and unsightly.

[Crunchy Frog]

48. I think that's why he's probably not the best person

to run for president, but I just don't see it as a problem for DNC head.

We need a sense of energy and committment to principles in there. I think we get that from Dean, and not from other people that are being talked about.

[Cheswick2.0]

73. yeah, lets run Clark for President... they guy with the sitcom

based on his life.

[Crunchy Frog]

74. Oh, hi there, fancy seeing you here.

Still being bothered by those *issues* ?

Sorry, the General can't help you with that, and it won't do you any good to direct your anger at him for it.

Maybe you need to be consulting a surgeon.:shrug:

[Capn Sunshine]

69. Hey, I know! Let's find unflattering photos of ALL the candidates!

Maybe photoshop some! We could have some REAL fun then!

Maybe even accomplish our pathetic agendas!

[JohnOneillsMemory]

81. Your pointing out two of his BEST qualities- strong personality+courage.

Without those two things, you can't have leadership of the masses.

[Name removed]

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[Clarkie1]

9. Loser?

Dean's no loser.

His ablity to energize the grassroots early on in the primary season and raise $$$ from real people was extraordinary.

Just because he didn't end up winning the nomination does not mean he does not have very valuable skills to bring to the party leadership.

[Name removed]

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[BrklynLiberal]

29. He did not have all the press, in fact, the press screwed him..

with the help of the Repugnants...who I believe were afraid of him..and purposely pulled the rug out from under him...using the press in their usual role as their water boys.

[Clarkie1]

31. Democratic party nominee for president and democratic party chairperson

are two entirely different positions, requiring entirely different skillsets.

I really don't see how Dean not winning the primary is relevant to this question.

Energizing the grassroots and raising $$$? That is very relevant to this question.

[BrklynLiberal]

33. Good point. His strong points are perfectly suited for this position.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. If it had not been for Dean, Kerry would have lost in a landslide for Bush

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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[BrklynLiberal]

30. I have my opinion, you have yours.

[msgadget]

13. The DNC doesn't want him so his time would be better spent outside

the committee. If the party had to work harder to win our votes, maybe they'd think beyond their corporate sponsors and next election cycle. They might actually decide to work to please us instead of swing voters.

[lojasmo]

59. he had almost half of the DNC electors pledged to him in the primaries

as superdelegates. I think the DNC decidedly does want Dean. I'm okay with him in the DNC chair, or as head of DFA.

1000 posts...woot!

[MaineDem]

60. Many of those faces have changed since the primaries

And not all super delegates are DNC members.

[msgadget]

62. The presidential primaries?

Pelosi, et al keep proposing people with the exact opposite personality and he seems to be running his own campaign for the position with little or no encouragement.

[lojasmo]

87. Wha? A tenacious politician who stands for something?

Somebody who won't fold when things look hard?

I'm scandalized!

[0007]

17. I'll take Dean over anyone!

[yorgatron]

21. i doubt the "dean scream" is much of a liability

for a job like that.i just want someone who will kick some ass,instead of kissing ass.

[0007]

51. That's a good way of putting it!!

[BrklynLiberal]

19. If they put a centrist into the chairmanship of the DNC, they will lose

many, many people from the Democratic party. If they move the party to the right, they will lose everyone who is left of the center that they have moved to...

[BrklynLiberal]

22. The leadership of the Democratic party better not move to the right

DUH!!! We need someone who will energize the TRUE liberal/progressive thinking base of the Democratic party!!!! If this party moves any further to the right and becomes any more enmeshed with the corporate interests, it might as well just merge with the Republican party. The Democratic Party will have abandoned every single basic principle that defined it from its inception. Why should anyone who believes in those principles stay in the party?
We need to dig in and start demanding that our leadership get some cujones and stand up and spit back at these Repugnants!!! Move further LEFT, not to the right!!!!!! Get more stubborn about the principles we stand for, not waver over them. How can we expect people to follow us if we are not sure where we are going???

It was Arianna Huffington who quoted George Lakoff:

"As cognitive psychologist George Lakoff told me: "Democrats moving to the middle is a double disaster that alienates the party's progressive base while simultaneously sending a message to swing voters that the other side is where the good ideas are." It unconsciously locks in the notion that the other side's positions are worth moving toward, while your side's positions are the ones to move away from. Plus every time you move to the center, the right just moves further to the right."

From this article:

THE NEXT DNC CHAIR: WHY YOU SHOULD CARE

Arianna Huffington, AlterNet

[latteromden]

20. Terry McAuliffe likes to claim that all the Democratic fundraising was due

to HIS work.

Uh, nope, sorry Terry. Thank Howard Dean for that. You'd be in the red this year (again) if it weren't for Dean's fundraising techniques in the primaries.

People don't vote based on who the DNC chair is. They don't know who they are, or if, by chance, they DO know, they have no idea what the job entails, and it's not going to lose us voters. Hell, the most politically active people I know have no idea who McAullife is, and the ones that do are not happy - of course, it didn't stop them from voting Democratic. I think Dean would be a very powerful force for organizing and energizing the party, though.

Dean's proven through DFA that he can win races. The fact that we took over so many statehouses was in no small part due to him.

And think about it: We can't POSSIBLY go MORE wrong. As my dad used to say, "If you're going to go down, go down in flames. Who knows, you might actually have come up with a brilliant thought that was never even considered by the greatest minds of the world." *shrug*

[BrklynLiberal]

24. Absolutely true

[Mr.Green93]

23. Ickes the one.

The fix is in.

[Crunchy Frog]

50. No, it sounds to me like it's probably that Roemer guy. n/t

[Kurt Remarque]

25. what we've been doing hasn't been working

dean would be a bold and interesting choice

[bahrbearian]

35. "Howard Dean for DNC chair" YeeeHaaww !!!

[MaryBear]

36. Yes! YeeeHaaww !!!

Go, Howard!

[corbett]

38. He's The Best Choice To Keep It On The Right Track

He and Senator Kerry have many common philosophical views. With Kerry as President and de facto head of the party, Dr. Dean could accomplish many great things!

[Ladyhawk]

39. Question: who decides whom is DNC Chair?

And can we write letters to those people, etc.?

[Pepperbelly]

43. Democratic National Committee and

I would suggest that you find out who represents YOU in that august body and lobby that person. Best thing to do.

[Pepperbelly]

40. I vote for Dr. Dean DESPITE his supporters. nt

[greenohio]

84. Amen.

It appears there are many things we agree on.

[Crunchy Frog]

42. Yes!

And on top of that, at this point, I am out of the Democratic party if they go with yet another beltway hack with views that are more Republican than Democratic.

I'm through with this shit!

[DeepGreen]

44. I wonder if Dean would join DU?

I would be great to have a thread discussing issues !

[w13rd0]

45. How do you know he isn't already?

Wouldn't be hard to accomplish, and anonymity could be maintained...

[DeepGreen]

47. I have no idea who all is in here. I would like to see Dean,

Kucinich, Sharpton, Kerry, Clark, Edwards, show up from time to
time to discuss issues, and give their insight/perpective on the current environment.

[zulchzulu]

49. Would being DNC chair lessen his efforts with DFA?

I'm fine with Howard being DNC chair, but wonder about how that might affect his efforts with DFA. I've seen other Dean supporters feel that he would be best with the DFA as a full effort.

Also, are people supporting Dean as DNC chair wondering about him running in 2008? Granted, he could run...but how would that look...

[janx]

76. I used to worry about the DFA aspect, but I think it would be fine--

It would complement the DNC efforts, probably, and it would most likely remain a separate entity.

As for a 2008 run, it's far too early to speculate about that. I wouldn't care how it looked if Dean decided to do that.

One thing is certain, though: If Dean had even two years to gear up the Dem party, he could do a lot, because there are many people who would be willing to help in the effort.

[Uzybone]

52. Yes, so I can finally see what this guy is made of

so far he has not achieved much, but yet he has such fanatical support. That must count for something. I want to see him put that same kind of fire in the party leadership, if he can.

[elperromagico]

53. I don't think there's much doubt that Dean brought energy to the party

in late '03 and early '04. And there's even less doubt that he's a fighter.

I was not a big Dean supporter in the primaries, but I cannot deny that sizable influence.

So yes, I support him.

[Lenape85]

54. Dr. Dean deserves to direct the DNC

[InvisibleBallots]

55. yes

the only choice, except for maybe Al Gore I guess.

[Andromeda]

56. Yes, yes, yes.

Did I say yes? Yes.

Period.

[Miami Liberal]

57. Dr. Dean for DNC Chair!

http://www.theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1071125662075_2003/12/12/howard_dean,0.jpg

:yourock:

[JNelson6563]

58. Yes! And for the right reasons!

I support Dean for DNC chair cause he will stand and fight, not ask a focus group of Rethugs what they think before making a decision. Also I don't want him to be DNC chair because I want someone else to run for the WH in 08 and fear Dean would ruin that chance....

;-)

Always getting a kick out of those with "hidden" agendas.

Julie

[Cheswick2.0]

61. I know... let's support Clark for DNC chair and that way

we can get him out of the way for 2008 and start a draft Dean movement today. Sounds like a plan huh?

Dean08.........yah man!

or we could just support Dean for DNC chair because he will do a great job and we are thinking of 2005 and 2006. :shrug:

[marcologico]

63. Dean would be great

Why Pelosi and Reid are pushing Roemer I can guess and I sure as heck hope they fail.

[Clarkie1]

67. I don't have a hidden agenda

I think Dean would be the best choice for all the reasons I outlined.

If Clark does decide to run in 08' and Dean decides to run as well, I really don't see a problem. It's a free country.

[JNelson6563]

68. I know that Clarkie1

And I should have made that clear in my post. Some Clark supporters openly discuss their strategy to keep Dean out of the way for Clark in 08. I do not recall seeing this from you and I apologize for any confusion that led you to believe I was inferring such.

Julie

[Tom Rinaldo]

75. I support Dean for DNC Chair

I think we need someone exactly like Dean right now. And I am not trying to get Dean out of the way for 2008 either. He is the best man for the job, and the job is important. If Dean does not become DNC Chair, I look forward to him remaining an active and important voice in the Democratic Party. If that means him running again in 2008 (even against my guy Clark) so be it. I would far rather Dean in the race than have his voice be silent (though I know that won't happen lol) and I would enthusiastically support Dean if he became our nominee. Meanwhile we have a Party that needs to be gotten into fighting shape.

[American Tragedy]

65. I say go for it, let's see what he's made of

I'm prepared to try something unconventional. Even if he fucks up, we have little left to lose now.

At least it'll finally shut up the 'Howard Dean is our only hope' crowd. :evilgrin:

[okieinpain]

66. It's the best way I know to tell the DC to go to hell.

[xultar]

70. I SUPPORT DEAN FOR DNC CHAIR!!! n/t

[Maat]

71. I support Dean for DNC Chair!

In fact, I'm wildly enthusiastic about it.

Do I think it will happen? Well, that depends on if the Democratic Party really wants to seriously challenge (and win versus) the Rethuglican Party. Sometimes, I wonder.

It doesn't matter, in any case. As far as I'm concerned, he's my Party Chairman. And they are going to have to show Dean, Clark, and Kerry respect to get my $ (or even think about getting my $).

[NoPasaran]

72. I support Howard Dean for DNC Chair

I'm not going to repeat all the points that have been made in this thread but I will add another one: Dean supports us running a national campaign, which is the only way we'll reverse the trend of marginalization and instead become a truly national party again.

[Bush was AWOL]

77. Nope

Simon Rosenberg

[genius]

79. Of the two choices, I prefer Dean.

He's not a progressive though. However, he doesn't seem as bad as Roemer.

[mvd]

80. Yes I do

He's not as liberal as I would like, but he'd be the attack dog that the position needs. He's so direct that he may need to work on the propaganda part of a party chairman's job, though.

[ngGale]

82. He is an attack dog, and I learned one thing from...

this election. Whomever the Right tears down and calls names like Dean, that's who they are afraid of. He did start the 'grassroots' movement and can motivate the people. What more can we ask, the rest are party picks. I want the bottom line this time, Dean will get everybody on their toes and moving.

[bklyncowgirl]

83. Wingnuts froth at the mouth at the mention of Dean as DNC chair

I wasn't sure I supported him for the job but then I started hearing the right wingnuts on TV most recently Monica Crowley and the Douchebag for Liberty opining that making a (and these are their sentiments not mine) far left, crazy, extremist, conspiracy theorist nut job chairman of the Democratic party would be the end of the Democrats.

Since the destruction of the Democrats is the goal of every right wing nut job pundit, then it seems to me that the Democrats should do the opposite of what they say and name Dean chairman.

Would you let your ex-husband chose your lawyer.

[Snivi Yllom]

85. I love it!

Someone with guts and passion!

[Prodemsouth]

86. DNC chair is where Dean belonged to begin with. I was never a fan of him

being a Presidental Candidate. I wish they could have fired Terry after the midterms in 02- and put Dean in. Thought he would have been a good VP pick for one of the non northeastern Dems if they got out of the primary. Dean is an attack Dog- I love that sharp smile that looks like it could take a bite out of any hide that dares to question.