McAuliffe says the unwillingness to criticize Bush's record a mistake.

[madfloridian]

The article does not make clear where he said this.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/3034421

Outgoing party chair says Democrats held back in '04
McAuliffe calls the campaign's unwillingness to criticize Bush's record a 'mistake'
By TIMOTHY SPENCE
Copyright 2005 Hearst News Service

WASHINGTON - Outgoing Democratic chairman Terry McAuliffe on Thursday outlined mistakes he said his party made in Sen. John Kerry's unsuccessful 2004 presidential campaign, including the failure to attack the Bush administration record at the national convention and loss of support among Roman Catholics...."

"I think it was a mistake not to go after George Bush at the convention," McAuliffe said, referring to the party's Boston gathering in July where speakers avoided direct criticism of the commander-in-chief at a time when U.S. troops were fighting in Iraq."

"We did not do an effective job of delinking Iraq from the war on terror," McAuliffe said. "The message we have to convey across the country is the Democratic Party will protect you after 9/11."

"Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who failed to win his party's presidential nomination a year ago, will take over from McAuliffe on Saturday.."

"McAuliffe praised Dean — whose renegade presidential primary campaign often put him in conflict with the Democratic hierarchy — as a leader who "can and will do a great job for the party."

Thanks, Terry, for saying that.

[Melodybe]

1. I can't wait! Things are finally looking up!

[rwenos]

2. No Sh*t, Sherlock

As a professor of mine once said (to me, unfortunately):

"You have successfully conquered the obvious."

[fishwax]

21. my sentiments exactly

I didn't think I had any anger left to offer the guy, but that just pisses me off all over again.

[MercutioATC]

3. Terry "praised" Dean?

...after spending the primaries trying to paint him as a wacko liberal?

Fuck Terry. I think it's a great example of poetic justice that Dean will be getting his job.

[BattyDem]

4. Gee Terry ... ya think?

:eyes:

[coloradodem2005]

5. Wasn't he part of that problem?

I could be mistaken, but I always felt that McAulliffe was part of the problem.

[DFLforever]

6. And weren't those exactly the points Dean raised in his 'renegade' run?

It's tragic for us that it took McAuliffe (and others) so long to see this.

[SoCalDem]

7. DUH !!! n/t

:(

[madfloridian]

8. Great pic of the Talon. LOL

:hi:

[depakid]

9. Gee, do ya think?

think maybe the fact that a sizable number of Dems also voted for many of Bush's signature pieces of profoundly bad policy had a little something to do with that?

Think you might have learned that lesson after 2,00 & 2002?

Crawl back in your slimy hole, McAuliffe.

[madfloridian]

10. Was this on C-Span tonight at the tribute to McAuliffe?

I did not watch it. I do know something is on at 10 AM tomorrow for two hours...wonder if that is the chair selection?

[paineinthearse]

24. Today's session will be re-broadcast at 1:40AM eastern......

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3097378 for overnight and tomorrow's schedules.

[aquart]

11. He figured it out!

NOW????

Buh bye, Terry.

[madfloridian]

12. Another admission in the article....belated though it may be.

SNIP..."McAuliffe said the anti-Kerry advertisements in August that questioned Kerry's record as a young naval lieutenant commanding a river gunboat "were a defining moment in the campaign" because the Democrats weren't quick enough to respond to the attacks. The ads were paid for by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, and the groups's supporters had links to the Bush re-election campaign...."

You are right, Terry.

I wish the article stated where yesterday Terry said these things.

[madfloridian]

13. Does anyone know where and when this was said.

It is odd the article does not indicate if it was an interview or a speech or what. I did not listen to the tribute last night, but I doubt he said it there.
:shrug:

[Stirk]

14. Wow- do ya think, Terry? Fucking wimp ass DINOs, I swear to god.

[MissB]

15. No shit. (nt)

[madfloridian]

16. These things were said at his luncheon tribute, I gather.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15398-2005Feb10.html

SNIP.."The man who called himself the chief cheerleader of the Democratic Party used his lunch to offer opinions that might make even free-speaking Dean wince, as he attacked some of the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, criticized some decisions by Kerry's campaign and accused abortion rights activists of unfairly attacking one of the candidates to succeed him.

McAuliffe lavished praise on Kerry himself. "John Kerry ran a great race," he said. "We had every player on the field. We had more money. We had the largest field operation. We got close. We got to the 1-yard line. But we didn't win. John Kerry gave it all he had."

Then came the criticism. "Should we have responded to the Swift boats ? No question," he said. And he was clearly rankled by the Kerry campaign's decision not to attack President Bush at the Democratic National Convention in Boston last summer....."END SNIP

[KissMeKate]

17. one thing Ill give McAuliffe-

he did help raise that money- by hook or by crook, and it will help withy the future of the democratic partty.

Thanks, Terry.

[Must_B_Free]

18. that's like saying

"shooting myself in the head was a mistake..."

[Solly Mack]

19. Someone done bought that man some vowels!!!

he got a clue!!!

[fishwax]

20. Screw you, TM

Not just at the convention, but for the last four freaking years. :grr:

I'm so glad he's gone and I can contribute to the DNC again. After '02 I decided no more money to the national party until he either left or changed his ways. I gave all my donations directly to candidates.

[Tinoire]

22. Oh Lol! They are really kissing Dean's ass and the Dean Machine's ass

The DNC has see the writing on the floor and though they don't like it, they're going to flatter, whine and dine the Dean machine because they don't understand that it has a life of its own and that Dean doesn't control it. They think that by just putting Dean in there, they're going to own his activist list and hundreds of thousands of DFAers are going to work their fingers to the bone for the DNC.

Oh lol, the reality, if I'm correct, is that the DNC is going to have to work its fingers to the bone for the DFA and earn its damn paycheck for a change.

Dare one hope?

On edit: "We did not do an effective job of delinking Iraq from the war on terror," McAuliffe said. "The message we have to convey across the country is the Democratic Party will protect you after 9/11."

No shit Terry. No effing shit! And for that second part about how "the Democratic Party will protect you after 9/11"- screw that. let the Democratic party do what's right and we won't need so much protection from the manufactured terror.

YOU SHOULD HAVE DENOUNCED THIS LONG NONSTOP 14 YEAR WAR like we asked you to and started setting things right instead of trying to play ball with those criminals.

[paineinthearse]

23. Terry? YOU'RE FIRED!!!!! n/t

[Tabasco_Dave]

25. In the words of the great singer Carole King

" Well it's too late baby yea it's too late"

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

26. Don't.

Door.
Hit ya.
Split ya.