Are we in a better position than we realize?

[RogueTrooper]

The spat over the DNC chair has done Dean no harm at all. He will probably not be the the next chair but in the last week or two he has certainly raised his voice as a true leader of the party. The Dean-DNC chair bubble has done our candidate, and ourselves no harm at all.

I know people are dissapointed that the DNC has chosen the road of abject cowardice once again but hear me out. I am guided by an observation somebody made about change. "Change comes from the periphery , and when it is ready it comes rushing to the center erasing all before it".

Dean is better staying at DFA. The organization, at it's state chapters have had a "good war" so far. The November election was a disaster but it would have been much worse were it not for DFA and the State chapters. We are building a grassroots movement to take America back.

Now, in 1976 Ronald Reagan had an unsuccessfuly primary run. In the interveening four years he focused on getting Republicans elected at every level of government. He came back in 1980 and won. Howard Dean is a carefull student of history.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Interesting theory RT. Go back, build stronger and come back.

I support Gov. Dean in anything he attempts. I've met more people more willing to become involved in politics because of his efforts. I think he is a force to be reckoned with. I'll always remember Terry McIdiot at the DNC-I read his lips- saying,"I don't get it" during the standing O for Dean. This is what we are stuck with as leaders. They don't "Get Us". :hi:

[RogueTrooper]

2. The chap who write libera oasis

http://www.liberaloasis.com/archives/110704.htm#110904

[NoPasaran]

3. SAKAL

Love it!

[JNelson6563]

4. Great stuff!

LiberalOasis hears that you are interested in being chair of the DNC.

Don't do it.

To be sure, you'd be great at it. But so would others, like Simon Rosenberg and Donna Brazile.

And there's another job that's currently open that desperately needs to be filled.

It doesn’t pay anything, but only you can do it.

It's a job that has never had a formal title associated with it, but let's give it one:

Strategist and Ass-Kicker At-Large, or SAKAL for short.

I love it! :toast:

Julie

[PassingFair]

6. Even more interesting if you see that the second article is a

totally conflicting piece.

First we are told that Dean's "outspokenness" or "TELLING THE TRUTH", as I quaintly describe it will be twisted by pubs. We need him on the outside....

Second article contrasts the total yes massa attitude of those elected to speak for US with the loyal opposition positions of Dole and the moral majority pubs.

Let's not kid ourselves here. DNC Chair is the BEST job for Dean. He can always sign on to take the party through the 06 elections and then step down and "work from the sidelines" or build for his own run. I say we continue to push for it until DEAN decides he doesn't want it. At the very least, we'll let the DNC/DLC know that we have numbers, dollars and boots that are made for walkin....

Just my 1 cent (adjusted for inflation)

[madfloridian]

15. The 2nd article was interesting indeed.

I made the mistake of posting about Obama's insistence on the Randi Rhodes show that we should get over the election and move on.

It even upset Randi on the show. I was not really thinking when I wrote it, not intending to insult him, just furious at the attitude of the Democrats. I get livid when someone says move on or get over it. 2000 hurt too much to do that.

That thread got vicious, indeed. But that is how they are sounding. I don't know why.

[PassingFair]

7. Don't forget Hillary and her

"clinking" champagne glass. Is this what were working for?

Hi Ms. Grumpy!!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Totally agree Patty. The new symbol of the Dem party these days.

I'll do all I can to see Dean as chair....Just as I'll do all I can to see him elected to the office he so rightfully deserves! :pals:

[PassingFair]

5. Nice theory...

Howard is a careful student of history.
He'd better be reading up on the creation of successful third parties.

My DINO-senses tell me that the party, OUR party, MY party will continue to torpedo him everytime they get a blip.

Down periscope, people. Looks like we'll have to run silent and deep for a while. The only thing I'm sure of is that we will continue to struggle for truthtelling and transparency.

Waiting for the call: "Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!"

[janx]

9. Absolutely!

We have four years to do what we can for DFA, for our country. Think of what DFA has done just since May.

Can you imagine?

[a new day]

10. The petition hasn't reached 4,000 yet

So, the blush is off, apparently. I got an email from a Dean delegate telling me that he didn't really want it. Maybe that's the inside dope.

Building slowly and steadily is probably the only way to get there. The entrenched power base doesn't want a new player. He has to muscle in. Even if Dean never gets the presidency, the effort should stop the slide to the right.

[janx]

11. What did the email say? Was it just a general comment,

or was there something more specific?

[a new day]

12. Here's the edited text of the e-mail I received

Now, HD is a big boy, and should be used to the enthusiasm of us Deaniacs, by now. I think he may have changed his mind, but the points made here are worth considering:


Howard Dean MAY make a great DNC Chair, but there are
problems with him doing it. First of all, I've now
heard him twice say he doesn't want it. First, when
his National Delegates met with him in Boston during
the DNC. More recently There were
about 40 people at this event. He was asked if he wanted
to be the DNC Chair and he was quite clear and
emphatically said ,"NO".

He could change his mind, but if it isn't his first
choice as to what he wants to do with his life during
the next 4 years, we shouldn't try to push him into it
if his heart isn't in it and that isn't what he wants.
Of course, he could rise to the occasion and decide
to run to be the DNC Chair. However, the DNC Chair is
an elected position and if he loses in his bid to be
the Chair, he will once again be perceived as a 'loser'....something he cannot afford if he decides to run for President in 2008. People will say he couldn't even win the DNC Chair position, so how can he win the nomination in 2008.

Also, if he is the DNC Chair he cannot run for
President in 2008 because the DNC Chair requires a
4-year commitment. There are other issues with his
being the DNC Chair. If he is the DNC Chair for the
next four years and then decides to run for President,
say in 2012, any failings he has at the DNC will
follow him. The problems at the DNC are so vast they
simply cannot be solved in 4 years and will take
significantly longer to resolve. People will say
since he couldn't solve all the problems at the DNC,
how can he solve problems as the President. Further,
some may perceive him as a self-serving weasel--that
he only took the DNC Chair job to set up his next bid
for President.

Right now I see far too many people looking for a
"savior", someone who will magically step into Chair
the DNC and fix things. Unfortunately, many do not
see that they are the Democratic Party and it is
incumbent on each and every one of us to change the
Democratic Party. The DNC Chair can only do so much.

I saw this mentality throughout the Dean campaign.
Many people flocked to the campaign thinking Dean was
a 'savior' and expected him to be doing everything
while they sat on their duffs. Of course, others did
become and have stayed engaged, but those who have
stayed engaged are much fewer in number than those who
came to Dean MeetUps during the campaign, etc.

There are many pros and cons to Gov. Dean trying to be
the DNC Chair and I just hope people think this
through. Unfortunately, I see way too many folks who
think it will be a quick fix and are also not taking
into consideration what Gov. Dean wants to do.

Well, those are some of my thoughts early this
morning...I could go on and on, but will stop here.

[redsoxliberal]

13. interesting... perhaps we want him as prez now?

I'm so conflicted.

[janx]

14. Thanks for the post. Those are very obvious problems,

to be sure.

And I emphatically agree with whoever wrote this about the "savior" part. It's up to all of us.

[madfloridian]

16. New day, I am very suspicious of that letter.

I am sorry, but I am. If you find my post about the Democracy for TX camp out, you will see other things there.

Besides, what it says it not true, really at all. Most of us are really thinking it over a lot.

Sorry, not being insulting, but that does not really ring true. I have heard other things on this as well. He apparently realizes his chances are slim, but he has called the membership.

It just does not ring true. Deaniacs do not get discouraged that easily, and NONE of us thinks he would be quick fix for the party.

The tone of it bothers me...

[janx]

18. Most of that letter is just somebody's opinion, MF.

I wouldn't take it too seriously.

[a new day]

20. Well, I assure you the writer is a flesh and blood person

A bit of yenta, but a very hard working Democrat and delegate to the National Convention.

I still support Dean for DNC Chair, but not everyone agrees, that's all. Keep in mind, Dean has not openly declared his candidacy, yet.

[madfloridian]

22. I don't doubt that at all.

I did hear Dean quoted as saying it was a "thankless job." I have also heard people who have met with him this week say he is very open to it....just cautious.

I have also read a quote that he told someone that he could do both, do the chair and run in 2008 also.

Now either our beloved Dean...and he is truly beloved by us (my hubby gets tears when he speaks)...is being misquoted and misinterpreted....or he is saying one thing to one person and one to another. And I don't believe that.

My stance on this is that I don't care what he does. I would like to see how much we could build DFA, and see what kind of powerhouse it might become.

I never doubted a real person wrote this, or that this was their opinion. I just meant that there is really some confused thinking this week by folks who seem to know. :shrug:

[madfloridian]

23. I guess this is the paragraph that I don't see.

QUOTE: "I saw this mentality throughout the Dean campaign.
Many people flocked to the campaign thinking Dean was
a 'savior' and expected him to be doing everything
while they sat on their duffs.

The Dean supporters I have known have been passionate and active.

I think if Dean stays with DFA it will grow and become more active than we thought in our wildest dreams. If he distances himself from it for the DNC chair, it will not grow in at the same ratio.

It is too young a group to grow on its own. The DNC does not deserve Howard Dean...he is too outspoken and honest for them.

[a new day]

24. Well, that's the yenta part

Some people just love to portray themselves as the only hard-workers around. This person is one.

[madfloridian]

17. Oh, and did you read the blog today about the elephant in the room?

I was astounded that most of the posts were begging him not to take it.

[janx]

19. Why? It would make sense that a lot of DFA folks wouldn't

want that, wouldn't it?

[madfloridian]

21. Sorry, I did not mean it that way.....

Nevermind. I meant I thought we were about the only ones who would rather he build DFA.

I don't care what happens about the chair. We signed the petition to show he had our support if he wants to go for it.