Has the DLC been beaten or is it just in retreat?

[Zynx]

No matter what happens now, the party is heading in a more liberal direction than it was under Clinton and than how it campaigned in 2002. We have nearly collectively decided that it is time we stop the spineless actions that led us to disasterous defeat in 2002 and stand up for varying degrees(depending on the candidate) of progressive values again. What's more is that it's working with our two major candidates leading Bush and us in good position to make Congressional gains.

Given all of this, do you think that the DLC is in retreat, or are they solidly beaten?

[coloradodem2005]

1. I don't know.

All I can say is: Howard ain't no coward.

[Zynx]

4. Dean certainly led the fight against the DLC.

Though his results aren't impressive in terms of primary votes, the field moved further left thanks to him and is now out of the DLC's comfortable range.

[ulysses]

2. not beaten by a long shot.

They have too much money and power at stake.

[Zynx]

3. But do you think they are in retreat?

[ulysses]

11. I was going to respond in some depth

but I think, given my mood and rising mod warning rate, that I'll hold off on the DLC tonight.

[GreenArrow]

5. Say what?

:wow:

[revcarol]

6. They have their candidate lined up and in the leading position.

They're just keeping quiet so we don't notice.

Dean did the party a great service, but we have to keep the pressure on, otherwise the candidate will regress.

[lams712]

8. Wasn't Lieberman the DLC-backed candidate...and when he fizzled....

...didn't they then try to pump up Clark????


Help me out here, I could be wrong, but both Edwards and Kerry seem to be generally too liberal for the DLC's liking.

[mzmolly]

10. Did they ever endorse anyone? I thought they favored Lieberman?

Could be wrong on that though. I know they were against Dean. :(

Though Al Franken ("A DLC Democrat") raised $$ for Dean and other DLC Dems supported him.

[SerpentX]

17. Lieberman was their guy,

it's just not conspiratorically correct to say it here.

[cosmicdot]

7. self-preservation and self-perpetuating mode

that's how the good ol'boys operate .. in order to sustain themselves in power, real, imaginary or wanted ..

[SadEagle]

9. Eh, both Edwards and Kerry are DLC members.

So I think they were beaten back, but are advancing again.

[union_maid]

12. Lots of factors

Dean, Kucinich, Sharpton and Braun, the internet, but most of all..the BFEE. The DLC was a brainchild born of the irrational, unexplainable popularity of Reagan and backlash against the liberals. Democrats couldn't win against that ham sandwich we've talked about so much. The DLC created a paradigm that they thought was a winner and seemed to be vindicated when Clinton won and then hung on despite events that would have sunk most presidents. However, Clinton is a master campaigner. I'm sure that there's a picture of Clinton under "Campaigner" in the dictionary. He's also very, very smart, except for one blind spot. The country was happy under Clinton for the most part. He didn't win because he was DLC, but the DLC looked good because of him.

Lots of things have happened since then - 9/11 and the way the Bush administration took advantage of it, the connectivity that allows outsourcing of high tech jobs, Iraq and no WMDs, the massive deficit owed mostly to foreign interests and the healthcare crisis that Clinton could see on the horizon has come to pass. The Bush administration has done either nothing or the wrong things for the people of this country in every area. Lots of people are noticing it. We no longer have to be kinder, gentler conservatives to win.

[dansolo]

13. More liberal direction???

Surely you're joking. I fully expect a hard right turn, which is exactly what the DLC has been wanting.

[Kanary]

14. Where's this liberal direction you mention?

Where's this collective decision to stop spineless actions?

Where's the decision to stand up for varying degrees of progressive values?

I'd really like to sign on to your vision, but.... I haven't seen any of this.

I sincerely hope you're right in your assertions.... that would certainly be welcome news.

If there are pockets of it somewhere, I'd sure like to know......... cuz that's where I'd like to be.

Kanary

[babzilla]

15. they seem to be quite satisfied with the results so far

here is the article posted on their site today.

http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=131&subid=192&contentid=252401

And Then There Were Two

Last week it was Gen. Wesley Clark who withdrew from the race. And this week it's Gov. Howard Dean, leaving two major candidates in the field as the Democratic presidential nominating process enters its decisive phase.

In his withdrawal speech yesterday, Dean took the high road, thanking his fiercely loyal core supporters, urging them to unite behind the eventual Democratic nominee, and promising to continue his "campaign for change" in the party and in Washington through different avenues.

We hope Gov. Dean will focus his energies, and those of his supporters, on the task of identifying and championing a policy agenda that could give real substance to his "campaign for change." As he has often pointed out, his specialty as governor of Vermont was coming up with innovative, problem-solving approaches to public policy that produced real-life results. He could perform a real service for his party and his country by replicating this effort on the national stage.

<snip/>

The two remaining major candidates, Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards offer significant contrasts in background, style, and emphasis. Each brings a different set of assets to the task of challenging George W. Bush. But on most of the major issues facing the country, their thinking is remarkably similar, and solidly within the Clintonian New Democrat policy tradition.

more...

[scarletwoman]

16. You're kidding, right?

The DLC is clicking their champagne glasses even as we speak...

sw