Joshua Frank argues Deaniacs have been hog-tied

[Selatius]

The Democrats have finally accomplished something. Yes, I'm talking about Howard Dean's latest victory, but it's not what you think. Dean's scoring of the DNC chair isn't a win for progressives. Nope, it's a triumph for the establishment. The Beltway savants have successfully muted the only vibrant contingent within their frail party. The Deaniacs have been corralled.

Howard Dean's new post has been hailed by many as a huge feat for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party (yeah, what "progressive" wing?). But it is no feat. Not only is Howard Dean a centrist in the most disgusting Clintonesque sense of the term, but his victory this past weekend to head the DNC is also a shot in the head of his passionate supporters. He has sold them out, while taking on the roll of insider, where his new symbolic post within the party will do little more to challenge Democratic policy, than, say, MoveOn's irritating phone calls to Congress.

We should have seen it coming. Right after Joe Trippi left Dean's presidential campaign last year, the good doctor moved quickly to replace him with DC insider Roy Neel. Neel, who talked Al Gore out of actively contesting the 2000 election, was a long-time telecom lobbyist who employed his status with the Clinton Administration to maneuver the atrocious Telecommunications Act (my emphasis added) through Congress in 1996 -- was perhaps the greatest corporate handout of the Clinton years.

It was a sign of what was to come when only months later Howard Dean jumped into the ring with presidential candidate Ralph Nader, hoping to entice his dizzied Deaniacs into not fleeing the Democrats' pro-war ticket. Although Nader's peaceful embrace was more in line with their anti-war principles -- the 2004 elections were simply not the time to stand up for what they believed in. Or so claimed Howard Dean.

...

Read full article here.

[Warpy]

1. Good luck, DLC

Nice try, but I sincerely doubt Deaniacs and DFA meetup people are going to be neatly corralled. Yes, Dean is a centrist instead of a far left progressive. No, he's not going to roll over and play dead just to suit you.

[Selatius]

2. Whoa, I'm no lover of the DLCer here (I disagree with their economic plan)

I put this up here to provoke discussion. I don't vouch for corporatist-lite.

[Warpy]

3. Relax, that wasn't for YOU

but for the idiot Frank.

[paulk]

9. Joshua Frank isn't DLC

He's just another Counterpunch nutjob.

Cripes!

[ima_sinnic]

4. whatever. sour grapes much?

on edit: they just don't get it. it's not about being "centrist" or "progressive," it's a matter of mobilizing/organizing the people to resist the most foul unAmerican band of fascist goons ever.

[Selatius]

5. I agree here

Personally, I don't care if the Democrat is centrist or left-leaning. At the end of the day, I simply want someone who will stand up when its time to stand up. We've got Democrats who talk the talk, but so many of these guys are so fucking cowardly either because they sold out or because they're simply self-interested in maintaining their seat that when the time comes, they fold instead of represent the people they're supposed to represent.

[necso]

6. I understand that the DFA has new leadership.

(A necessary move, methinks.)

"You will see less of me in this space for a while, but this organization is in good hands -- yours."

What DFA becomes is up to DFA members.

And it was necessary for the good doctor to become DNC Chair... the alternative would have been a disaster.

Doubters should give Dr Dean a chance to show what he can do... and they should give (the new) DFA a chance too. -- Not everything is as it might seem.

(And yes, I know -- but think about it.)

Oh, and I suppose that I should point out the obvious -- DFA no longer has even a hint of Dean 2008 about it. (A thing both good and bad -- but one that should make it easier for supporters of other potential candidates to hop aboard. After all, DFA is already in place, has a strong base of activists and has had a broad banner.)

...

And in other words, now you have to make these assertions (the "capture" of DFA, etc) into lies... With a little care, this shouldn't prove too difficult.

[Me.]

7. Eh! They Thought They Got Rid Of Dean Once Before

They'll learn, ain't nothing going to shut him and his crowd up. The box has been opened, we're not going away.

[Larkspur]

8. Joshua Frank is a known anti-Dean pundit

He hasn't a clue about Dean or Dean's supporters.