DNC Chairman Dean has warning for Democrats

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

VIENNA, Virginia (CNN) – Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean opened the party’s fall meeting with a warning to his fellow party members. “The worst thing we can do right now is be complacent .. and take things for granted” Dean told the crowd. He said “Republicans may not know” how to run the country but “they know how to win elections … we better work harder than they do.”

Dean credited the crowded field with having plans to get U.S. troops out of Iraq, but said “we now know it’s not enough to have a majority in the house and the senate, we have to have a Democratic president to change course in Iraq.”

The former Vermont governor ticked through the Republican field and accused many of them of continuing to engage in the “culture of corruption.” Dean also touted the current crop of Democratic presidential candidates, saying they reflect America because the group includes a woman, a Latino and an African-American. He compared the all white male Republican field to a 1950s flashback, drawing a hearty laugh from the crowd.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Senators Joe Biden of Delaware, Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are scheduled to address the meeting later on Friday. Earlier, Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut announced he would not attend the event, instead remaining in Iowa to campaign.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/11/30/dean-was-warning-for-democrats/

[groovedaddy]

1. I don't think Dems are taking '08 for granted, but more than working harder

we need to work smarter.

[russian33]

5. and be more united...

..tearing down a fellow democrat with negative attacks during a primary season, can be a double edged sword, it can turn away potential voters in general election...imho

[defendandprotect]

11. This idea that we must have a protected situation for Dem candidates ...

is nonsense --- and no better than Bush's "you're with us or you're against us!"

Those who question and challenge current or past behavior of Democratic candidates will not
be made into traitors, thank you !!!

On the other hand, those who want to build walls around Democrats to protect them from
criticism may be worried that there is something to hide --- ?

[groovedaddy]

14. I doubt that Dem candidates tip off Repubs on stuff that can be used in the general

I'm sure they already have their working dossiers on the Dem contenders.

[russian33]

22. that is not what i said

you twisted my words...candidates can debate each other on record and their plans, ideas for the country and people, without going negative...because every negative attack they put together towards each other, will surely go into a repub playbook, and be used in general election

made into traitors...geez...relax man, take a deep breath..

[defendandprotect]

31. No -- we see this constantly here --- this isn't about anyone going negative ---

this is to stop questioning and challenging of candidates ---

and to stop candidates from challenging each other ---

I think it is, rather, a situation where you're more worried about Repugs and what they'll do
than about what the truth of our candidates and political situation is ---

This is only one of many, many articles like this we see repeated at DU over and over again ---

[Zhade]

37. What undemocratic bullshit.

NT!

[PassingFair]

25. Right, they're just taking their BASE for granted.

They're not going to be able to "mobilize" anyone.

[ck4829]

2. I agree, let's not fall victim to the hubris that was the downfall for the Republicans

[ContraBass Black]

3. Alan Keys isn't running anymore?

[IronLionZion]

10. Alan Keyes is a traitor to the race,

the human race. Who cares about Alan Keyes?

[SKKY]

23. After he accused Obama for "Not being Black enough"...

...when they ran against each other, he pretty much sealed his fate.

[gasperc]

4. smart advice

we'll need to work harder than we've ever worked

[tomreedtoon]

6. Nah, Dean is wrong. Let's surrender like Florida Democrats.

A long time ago, the Florida Democratic Party decided that it was pointless to struggle against the wisdom and cleverness of the Republicans, and allowed themselves to be controlled by them. They put up a token resistance (as they did to the early primary in 2008) but ultimately follow the will of the Republicans (insuring that no Florida Democrat will have representation at the convention and making the primary worthless).

Why don't we all give up? We'll never win. Follow the Sunshine State into the setting sun of the American Democracy.

[nashville_brook]

20. too bad there's not a Floridian on the primary ticket -- at least, then it would get attention.

you are so right about the sun setting on Democracy via Florida. we are primed for it here (i'm in orlando). we have a huge immigrant population, not just from south and central america --- from northern states too. people come here to escape reality, it seems. it's the "magic kindom." with the emphasis on "kingdom."


it's going to be an interesting election year.

[PassingFair]

26. Hey, we here in Michigan already have!

Come on in, the water's tepid!

[Javaman]

7. The voters aren't complacent, it's the dems in the house who are. nt

[SKKY]

24. Yes, they most certainly are.

[emilyg]

8. K&R

[Harmonicaman]

9. "Republicans know how to win elections"

yes they do,
They fix them.

[Trillo]

19. That's what I was thinking.

Election fraud.

[defendandprotect]

12. Dean is wrong here --- “they know how to win elections … "

Rather the GOP have known for more than 40 years that they have to steal elections and have worked out a great system for doing so ---

have your political cronies run computer voting machine companies --- !!!

Sad if Dean really believes this: “they know how to win elections …

And if he doesn't, he should be telling the truth about what's been going on ---

[Cha]

29. Dean is being

euphemistic..we all know what he's saying.

[defendandprotect]

30. I think it would be healthier if we actually heard Dems talk about stolen elections . . .

[Cha]

32. So the m$$$$$$$$$$$m could

start playing his Dean Scream AGAIN?

[defendandprotect]

33. Just how fearful of MSM are you?

[Cha]

34. I know what those

corporatemediawhores will do and so does Dean. I'm guessing he's playing it nice and working to get what he wants with no distractions like his fucking mic manipulated Scream.

I'm so fearful of the m$$$$m that I want them wiped off the face of the map.

[defendandprotect]

35. The stuff they've been doing goes way back . . . was just reading something

about the dirty tricks played on McGovern's candidacy ---

Talk about stealing elections ---!!

We've had 40 years of this --- and now the MSM is deeply into it ---

I'm with you ---

But . . . IMO, we've also had very silent and cooperative Democrats who have been
letting this go by --

The Dean set up should have fallen of its own ridiculous weight ---
but he got no help from other Dems ---
no help from the rest of the leadership ---

and probably DLC was rooting for MSM ---

By the way, when are we getting rid of DLC --- ????

[Cha]

36. Yeah, we're on the

same page.. I do know what you mean about being direct and wish that's the way it could be but from watching and reading this stuff for only the last 7 years..I think Dean's learned not to be so direct with the cmw. Like when he said on one show during the 2004 campaign that when he was Prez he would get the airwaves back to The People. Kerry said something similiar and we know how they lied their fascistheads off about Gore.

The dlc? What a bunch of Orwellian shite.

[YoungDUer]

13. "we have to have a Democratic president to change course in Iraq.”

That's completely wrong.

[XemaSab]

15. O RLY?

How so? :shrug:

[YoungDUer]

16. We can always use the power of the purse right now to change course

You may or may not agree with that course but we can do it.

If the Dems were pushing to cut off funding, Howard Dean would be defending that option right now. The job of the DNC chairman is to defend whatever the Democrats do.

[xxqqqzme]

17. beg to differ.

When Dean became chair, Pelosi & Emanuel insisted that he not make ANY attempt to guide policy. They were that afraid of him. So instead he did his JOB. He began re-structuring the Democratic Party, which had been sorely neglected for at least 8 years, if not more. Dean put money where his mouth is. The majority in the Congress is proof his 50 state strategy is working. He is conceding nothing to the publicans. As a consequence, those of us that were Howard Dean supporters have managed to get progressives elected all over the map.

When Dean took up Paul Wellstone's fallen banner 'I'm from the democratic wing of the Democratic Party', we all understood that we had to get to work and build that progressive base from the ground up. Here in very red Orange County, we have managed to make in-roads on school boards, college trustee boards, and city councils. We aren't there yet but we are on our way.

[Catherine Vincent]

18. One minor change to what Dean said...

"Republicans may not know” how to run the country but “they know how to steal eletions."

[progressivebydesign]

21. Dude.. you mean "STEAL" elections.

Love ya Howard, but really... The biggest threat to Democrats now is wasting all this time infighting and tearing down our own candidates, while ignoring the fact that it's our LOGISTICAL strength, not our eventual candidate that will make the difference in the elections. Any of our major 3 candidates would do really well against any republican candidate.. the secret is in the ELECTION itself. We should spend less time arguing and attacking and more time preparing for voting day schemes against our candidate.

[VanPelt4IndSenate]

27. I'm stepping up...for what it's worth.

I think I will win, even my home grown Republican's voted out a republican dynasty this year in Bedford ,Indiana.

[Cha]

28. May the force

of accomplishment and success be with Dean and his hard work for America~

"Dean credited the crowded field with having plans to get U.S. troops out of Iraq, but said “we now know it’s not enough to have a majority in the house and the senate, we have to have a Democratic president to change course in Iraq.”

The current crop of republicons(except for ron paul of course) don't flashback to "1950's" for me, though..more like Germany in the '30's and '40's. :(

And, I think we all know how the republicons are "winning" "elections"..we have to figure out how to put a stop to it.

Oh, and there's some real knuckle draggers on the cnn comments under the article.. Very limpbaughesque talking points and cnn talking points, too, come to think of it.