What would you rather Dean do next

[RogueTrooper]

It would seem that, after our recent election defeat, Dean is showing the kind of leadership Democrat's need right now. Assuming that he can do only one thing, what would you rather he did.

[Cheswick2.0]

1. I honestly do not know

I can't vote yet.

[RogueTrooper]

2. The same with me Cheswick

I am hoping for some guidance from my comrades.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. I would love to see him become DNC chair. We need someone like

Dean to keep those who would have us drop our base and run to the center in check. I think a term as DNC chair would solidfy all those things that we already know about him with others. Just my two cents.

[Mojambo]

4. I'd actually prefer that he leave the Democratic party

and start a new party that has NO connection to corporate money.

But I'll take the DNC chair and hope he can stomp out the corporate influence from within.

[Abelman]

13. A poor metaphor

You can go buy a new car. Or you can get an old rusty one. It will take a ton more work to refurbish and fix up the rusty one, but if you put in the work and go all out, chances are it will be a hell of a lot cooler than the brand new one.

Best I could think of.

[Philostopher]

5. I'm not sure I want him to do either thing.

I'm really impressed by the success he had with Democracy For America, for a new organization. I'd like to see that blossom a bit more -- where I live, DFA worked almost as hard for some of our local candidates as the Dems did.

That being said, I can't think of anybody I'd rather see head up the DNC, but I don't know if that will happen. I think it would be great, but I do fear attempts to tear -- or at least tone -- him down. I don't know that he'd do that voluntarily, but it would be kind of horrible to watch him waste all that focus and energy on being sabotaged by those around him.

So I'm not sure, either -- I agree with several of the others.

[Strawman]

6. How about Trippi for DNC chair? n/t

Unlikely, but I would like it.

[WI_DEM]

7. I'm conflicted

I had thought DNC chair would be perfect, but now I'm thinking it is imperative that he run in '08. Remember Ronald Reagan he ran for president three times: 1968, 1976 and finally 1980. In 1980, Reagan had been out of the governors office for five years, it will be the same with Dean in 2008. I see the Dems trying to move the party more to the right and we need a strong progressive running in 08 and frankly, Hillary isn't it. I think Dean learned alot from running this time and he will be a stronger candidate for it in '08. On the other hand, he would be the best choice for DNC chair too. So conflicted.

[drfemoe]

8. President Dean!!!

Balance the Budget ... save Social Security, after the whoosh* claws have ripped it to shreds, CLEAN the environment, HEALTH Care from the Doctor, No-nonsense foreign policy, make us PROUD to be North Americans again .. what else?

DNC chair.. lame, imo. soz.
He can do better. We can do better.

I want my REPUBLIC back.

*republic:
1. a. A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president.
1. b. A nation that has such a political order.

2. a. A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
2. b. A nation that has such a political order.

*dictionary.com

[Gnscih]

9. DNC Chair

Before Dean there was little talk of winning the WH back. He was the catalyst.

[demnan]

10. Why not both

If he has success running the DNC chair with the legislative elections in 2006 then I think he'd be the logical one to run in 2008.

[BurtWorm]

11. He might be doing more good at DFA than he could at DNC

but you never know unless he tries. I'd love to see what Dean can make of the party as a whole. It definitely needs someone who has no fear of or respect for Republicanism.

[Kolesar]

12. I'm with you

Why does Howard need to spend his time flying around the country schmoozing rich donors? that's not his "thing". I think he is quite effective with his endorsements and his grassroots training and development agenda.

[BurtWorm]

14. He could restructure the DNC so that there'd be a VP in charge of

schmoozing rich bastids. But the more important work of fund-raising would become DFA-style grassroots interfacing.

[IndianaGreen]

15. Dean can use DFA as a platform for his vision for America

The DNC Chair is strictly a find raising job, and not one that we would want to see Dean being confined to.

As to 2008, it is too early yet. We have a war to bring to an end first!

[DFLforever]

16. Run for President in 2008

and in the meantime work to re-establish democracy in America through DFA.

It's tempting to think Dean might be able to redirect the Democratic Party from the top down while the grassroots continue to rebuild from the bottom up - but IMO it's wishful thinking.

Let Vilsack or some other official who couldn't deliver his own state to the Democrats in 2004 scrap around trying to raise money for their party from corporations who have even less reason to contribute to the Dems now that the Rethugs have complete control of the federal government.

Dean's energy and vision would be wasted money-grubbing at the DNC.

[madfloridian]

17. Not sure. Maybe keep on with DFA.

I just don't know.. He is showing leadership,but remember TPTB don't want him to show that leadership. It could hold him back.