Kerry should ask Dean to head the DNC

[mandyky]

It is rumored Kerry is going to axe MacAulliffe, which I think is long overdue. Dean and Joe Trippi would make excellent heads of the DNC. I would hope that the rift between Dean and the DLC can be healed too. I still don't get why they thought Dean was too liberal.

The Democratic Party needs to make the PEOPLE the only special interest we have - not corporate power and fundraising, not supporting an unjust and illegal war, standing up for the people over power in other words.

[truthspeaker]

1. Agree 100%. Dean is what the party needs.

Dean proved you can raise money without sucking big corporate dick and without watering down your message.

[molly]

2. Are we talking about the same HD?

http://www.isreview.org/issues/32/dean.shtml

snip.....

Though he has been dubbed a "raging liberal" by admirers and critics alike, Howard Dean governed Vermont strictly within the framework of the conservative Democratic Leadership Council.

Many people on the Vermont left see Dean’s current posture as politically motivated. "The notion that he is a liberal is ludicrous to those of us who worked with him in Vermont," said Terrill Bouricius, a former state representative.4 Dean admits that he recognized early on that the popular anger at Bush is "a raw energy, an energy that I know could be channeled."5

and

But such political maneuvering is nothing new for Dean. Upon becoming governor of Vermont in 1991, after the sudden death of then-Republican Governor Richard Snelling, Dean made a sharp turn to the right and pursued that course ever since. In his 11 years as governor, Dean would shift rightward on one position after another, all the while claiming to be concerned for the needy and less-fortunate, and disappointing all who thought they were getting someone who would govern from the liberal end of the political spectrum.

Dean inherited a massive deficit in the state budget from Snelling. Refusing to raise taxes on wealthier Vermonters (and rendering the tax system more regressive than previously), Dean declared in his first State of the State address that it would be his mission to balance the state budget with some "tough" cuts. Even though Vermont has no law requiring a balanced budget, Dean promised, "The pain for Vermonters will be real."7

Dean slashed millions of dollars from all sorts of social programs, from prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients and heating assistance for poorer Vermonters to housing assistance funds. In defending his cuts to social programs, Dean said, "I don’t think I have to shy away from that just because I’m supposed to be a liberal Democrat."8

[adadem]

3. McAuliffe has already

announced he is stepping down at the end of this term.

What about the campaign funds mismanagement. They blew through an awful lot of money with no results. That would concern me. This is not a bash...I was a Dean supporter early on. I think he would be a valuable asset but not as head...not now.

[patricia92243]

4. Don't think Kerry can do that - has to be all elected Dems

[waldenx]

5. Dean should tell Kerry to fuck off

after Kerry's disgusting Osama ad, Howard should make Kerry get on his knees and beg.

[seaglass]

6. No, no, no.

Dean needs to get control over his mouth before he takes a leadership position in the party, he blurts too much.

The money raising and technical expertise was really Trippi - wasn't it?

And strategy, his strategy was unsuccessful.

I just don't see where he has the skills needed to head the DNC.

[BeyondGeography]

7. Kerry should tell Dean to fuck off

for labelling him Bush-Lite and accusing him of using Republican fund-raising tactics.

And then, if Howard shows proper contrition, they can talk business.

[Finch]

8. Donna Brazil

or perhaps if we want to take a risk James Carville should be DNC chair (Carville looks like he will definitely be on the Kerry campaign team this year)... Dean blew $40 mil in a few weeks not ideal for a DNC chair... Dean would do best to run again for Gov in Vermont or alternatively make a run for the House... not DNC chair, McAuliffe is going anyway he's said as much for some time... but in the future if Dean's new organization is a success it along with Moveon.org will be really important in financing the DNC and will no doubt shift the debate leftward a little... having said that any who think Kerry is too right wing is nuts! he's the most liberal Senator with the possible exception of Feingold now Wellstone's gone and he will need a moderate running mate sorry but its the truth...

[Guaranteed]

13. For the last time, he's not Bush-lite.

He's a coward and a Bush-enabler. But he's no conservative Democrat.

[AntiCoup2K4]

9. The rift between DLC and Dean doesn't need to be healed.

The DLC needs to be abolished. They are not Democrats, they are Republican infiltrators with the mission of destroying the Democratic party from within. They have done NOTHING beneficial to this party, and have lost us several elections. And the next one, most likely :(

[stldemocrat]

11. I'll second that sentiment

DLC's gotta go...

[JI7]

10. Kerry isn't getting rid of Terry, Kerry himself wants to replace Terry

Kerry wants to replace Terry Mcauliffe as being seen as the leader of the party. kerry wants to set the agenda and other things. terry will be up there until he leaves his post as he said he will next year. this is nothing new. it was always expected whoever ends up being the democratic nominee will be seen as the party leader.

[Finch]

12. I'm sorry...

... I have no problem with the DLC... We wish republicans like McCain and Powel and other moderates lead their party but when it comes to our own party many on this board lambaste moderates (on many issues I myself am a moderate)... just think about that double standard... remember it was the DLC which was the strongest critic of Clinton's rightward drift in his second term... the DLC needs balancing with a leftwing equivalent perhaps but its a good constructive organisation and this irrational hatred of it I can't understand... besides how can you just expel an organisation of which about 2/3rds of the Democrats in Congress are members of? Its just strikes me as a foolish idea and an intolerant one...

[stldemocrat]

14. Rephrase

Maybe I should rephrase my comment. I am dissatisfied with where the DLC leadership has taken us. Lost the House, Senate, Governorships, and allowed the Presidency to be stolen. Clinton signed welfare "reform" and "defense" of marriage act. I just think it is time for the more progressive wing of the party to take control for a while.