There's a reason "politicians" don't chair the Parties

[theboss]

After seeing Clinton, Dean, and Edwards offered up as suggestions for head of the DNC, I began thinking. The head of the DNC should not be a politician - especially a politician seeking a future back in public life. I mean, why wouldn't Dean or Edwards just steer all the party apparatus towards making them the nominee in '08.

Contrary to popular opinion, the DNC's job is not to make policy or fight the President. It's to guide policy, raise money, find candidates and steer resources towards those activities. I mean, no one is looking to Ed Gillispie for direction on anything, but he's apparently damn effective at something.

Our next DNC chair is probably some wonk none of us has ever heard of. Clinton, Dean, Edwards, etc. have better things to do than spend 15 hours a day on the phone with fundraisers and eat rubber chicken at a banquet in Phoenix.

The real force in modern politics are not the parties, but the thinktanks. And this is where the Republicans have just been murdering us over the last two decades. Say, what you will about the Heritage Foundation, GOPAC or PNAC, but at least they have plans. If Edwards, Dean, etc want to help us, they need to open offices in DC and start molding the young minds that are going to take over this party someday. Leave the fundraising to the fundraisers.

[KharmaTrain]

1. Party Chair Is Like A Manager

Dean and the others are your players...your "stars"...he's the one who puts the line-up on the field of surronding players and is in charge of creating a winning strategy.

A DNC chairman has to be part marketing whiz, part fund raiser, part PR genius and part referee to balance all the special interests in the party. The Democrats had a great one a long time ago...Lawrence O'Brien, who went on to turn the NBA around.

There's a definite need for someone who can understand the nuances of running a national party and how to create and support a network of growing Democratic local parties...especially in the "purple" and "red" area where they either don't exist or barely do.

Most important, whomever takes this job has to be a party builder...one who realizes that it's people who win elections not money. Money helps reach the people to win the elections, not the other way around. I know, I'm dreaming again...

[madfloridian]

2. Dean said he will keep DFA separate from DNC.

I think that is good, as they would be at cross-purposes. I think he will continue doing this for a while, building the group.

[JI7]

3. but if those guys were DNC Chair they would most likely say

they have no intention of running for political office in the future. in fact if they do consider or take up dnc chair position it means they have given up on running for political office in the future.