So Howard Dean is assuming leadership of the Democratic Party?

[Skip Intro]

:D :D :D

changed "taking control" to "assuming leadership"

[Guaranteed]

1. Well, they've been calling him the party's new leader

on the news.

More or less, yes. But, he's not alone, for sure.

[GetTheRightVote]

2. The Democrats have come to realize that it was behind Dean

that the grassroot grow to over the party in funds and the raising of them. We are now the party and they know it, we are the power behind their seats in government. This is history in the making, they are returning to the old ways of FDR, our strongest president to date in the 20/21 centuries.

:kick:

[Placebo]

3. Umm, no, and he never will.

[Cha]

5. It that the sound of

Sour Grapes?

[Placebo]

7. No one "controls" the party.

That's scary language to be using, especially when mixed with politics, no matter who the person may be.

[Guaranteed]

9. So, you don't think Bill Clinton controlled the party? nt

[Placebo]

14. The party supported him because he was their President...

and that's entirely different.

[Guaranteed]

15. Yes, of course they supported him. But, I'm assuming that he

made some decisions about what he and the party we're going to do while he was President. And, certainly, even afterward he had quite a bit of influence.

Basically, this is the end of the Clinton era, although he WILL still have a lot of influence. Just not what he did before.

That support is where the decision-making power comes from. Although, still, many will say that Dean won't be in a policy-making role as DNC Chair.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. I can appreciate that

Democracy is a state where:

• Citizenship is universal. Each person born within the boundaries of the state is a citizen, as is one born abroad to at least one citizen parent or who swears allegiance to the state in a rite of naturalization.
• Citizenship is equal. Each citizen has an equal opportunity to participate in and influence public affairs. Every adult citizen shall be enfranchised with the right to vote. Decisions are made by a majority voted based on the principle of one man/one vote.
• Citizenship is inalienable. A guaranteed set of civil liberties is in place to assure full and open public discourse of civic affairs. No citizen may be stripped of his citizenship or otherwise punished by the state for expressing any point of view, no matter how unpopular or even absurd.

[Skip Intro]

16. changed to "assuming leadership" of

better?

[Guaranteed]

18. That is more fair. nt

[tsuki]

19. I think he is taking responsibility for building the infrastructure of

the party. You know that thing we don't have. Networking.

[Goldeneye]

11. um...ok.

[Placebo]

17. Well okay, the title of this thread was changed...

and now I look like a fool. lol

[Skip Intro]

20. The edit was noted in the original post, and in a post of its own

I changed it because I agreed that the original title was lacking in precision.

I don't think you look like a fool, at least here. fwiw

[Cha]

4. Big Celebration tomorrow when

it becomes official! :party: :bounce: :D :toast: :bounce: :party:

[Skip Intro]

10. I was wondering where the parties were

All the DFA chapters (?) should have toast, nationwide, at the same time this weekend.

Mculiffe just said at his goodbye party that, "we've given the party back to the people." Well, the people kinda just took it, but...


I wasn't positive I'd overcome the downer of the 2004 "event" but this is working on me.

DEAN!

I really didn't see it coming.

:party:

[Guaranteed]

12. It had to happen, with all the losses.

You don't lose this many times over and maintain control. The "people" won't have it.

[Skip Intro]

24. Maybe we really do have the power now.

Dean will be a great leader, imho.

Motivating.

Really excellent thing to be happening.

[Guaranteed]

25. Absolutely. I feel exactly what you're saying.

We always did have the power, but people just hadn't hit that threshold yet.

2004 was just the last straw.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. What will the Vichy Democrats say?

Watch this space.

[Jim Sagle]

8. Jagoff Joe Lieberman will say, "Please don't mess with my husband."

;)

[demwing]

47. Basically, the DLC has said "Howard who?"

And shrugged their collective shoulders as if to say they have no clue what all the hubub is about.

[saracat]

21. Not to rain on anyone's parade, but does anyone realize how little

control the DNC Chair has? They can't even dictate where resources or money go. It isn't as if Dean actually has a real "leadership " position. Think how few people were really familiar with previous chairs.And the Chair , and Dean has agreed to this doesn't decide policy and isn't supposed to be the spokesperson, though I think they are sometimes. Terry was spokesperson a bit too much. I hope that this results in change but there really isn't that much room to maneuver. The Chair is answerable to the elected reps in all things. Those are the people we need to get after.

[Guaranteed]

26. I think the position will be what he makes of it.

Imagine this (and Dean will most likely have the power to do it, if it comes to it- but it's a nasty, nasty one):

We all know the problems we're having with the media. But imagine a party-wide boycott of certain news outlets. KABOOM.

He could do some stuff, given the right ideas.

[saracat]

34. The thing is, the Chair doesn't HAVE any authority.

The best Dr. Dean will be able to do, and I think he will utilize it well, is to use his fame to attract media.

[Guaranteed]

38. None of our political leaders have "authority."

That's not the way politics works. It's about support and consensus-building.

[janx]

29. Yeah. That's what Candy Crowley says.

Hah. Just wait.

[saracat]

36. Candy Crowley or not. The position of chair is what it is.It is defined by

by our party by laws. DR. Dean will have very little authority. I think it is a shame as I think he or the Chair should have more, but they don't. I was shocked to hear Ed Rendell talk about how little they actually can do. There is no "just wait" about it. Dr.Dean would never exceed the authority alloted to him. I just hope people are not expecting something which can't happen. I think Dr.Dean will be a great Chair, but he cannot be the leader of the party.(which is too bad) He agreed to the job definition and that is not it!

[Guaranteed]

39. It's whatever he makes of it.

Alternatively, you could tell me who's making the authoritative decisions of the party?

[saracat]

40. Read the by laws.

[Guaranteed]

42. Well, you know who it is, right?

Can't you just tell me?

Who's making the decisions?

Or, at least the position of the person. Who makes those decisions, that everyone abides by?

[saracat]

44. I tried to copy the Bylaws but they are in Adobe and my computer jammed

but basically the decisions are made by our elected Reps and the 447 as well as other members of the executive committee as well as ceratin other members such as the Governors Conference. The Chairs main duty is to "preside" at meetings. His main duty is to carry out policyas outlined by the already mentioned Reps.There are several different committes that make different kinds of decisions. A financial committe for finances etc. You can google it. This is part of the "problem" that Rendell was always talking about. The "why" things are hard to get done!

[Guaranteed]

45. Yes, and those members all just voted for Dean to lead our party.

They gave him their support. He has a consensus.

I'm not saying he's going to be making all the decisions, here. Even if he could really practically do that, he doesn't work that way. But the party has put their faith in him- he has those people BEHIND him.

[saracat]

46. Hey, I didn't say they didn't! I am behind him too!

I am just concerned that people will have too high expectations that Dr. Dean can wave a magic wand and fix things! And a lot of those people held off committing until there was no choice. I think the grass roots finally registered with some of them, but I know quite a few that voted and held their nose. Some of these people may not be as easy to get the lead out of than it now appears. I am really praying this works but some of these ingrained political hacks don't let go that easy. My mantra has been"it ain't politics as usual anymore!" but try getting that through some of their thick skulls. Just look at the way some voted this week! And chair doesn't have any control over that! And lookat the votes of the new ones, Obama and Salazar, who just sided with the repugs and big business! God help us!

[CatholicEdHead]

22. Even Public Radio

played the scream tonight. I think it was Marketplace or the end of All Things Considered.

[Guaranteed]

23. What was the tone of it? I noticed a strangely

amiable tone toward Dean when CNN ran their reel of his gaffes.

[janx]

27. No. WE are.

Welcome. We'll be expected to do something for a change. :hi:

[NYCGirl]

28. Janx, where's the cartoon with the "do-nothing" donkeys? NT

[janx]

30. I don't know, but when I sent it to my oldest brother,

he said: "Shit, what about the Republicans?"

[janx]

31. The Ice Man Calleth--by Danziger

[WillyT]

32. Hey... I Remember That One, LOL !!!

:bounce::hi::bounce:

[NYCGirl]

33. Thank you!

:yourock:

[Guaranteed]

35. I've got it on my wallpaper.

:P

[kentuck]

37. Howard will make mistakes ...

he is human like the rest of us. But I feel confident he will speak his mind and will represent the Party very well when called to do so.

[Oreegone]

41. Bill Clinton said it all in 1997, he is still right.

"I'd also like to say that whatever it is that Howard Dean knows -- or whatever it is that he eats for breakfast every morning -- if I could give it to every other Democratic office holder and would-be office holder, we would immediately become the majority in the Congress and we would have about 35 governors. I have to tell you, I think a big part of it is just producing for people, actually doing what you say you're going to do at election time."
- President Bill Clinton addressing the Democratic Governor’s Association, 12 November 1997

[InvisibleTouch]

43. Playing "48 Hours" for Dr. Dean!

It's a song by Blue System that I've associated with him for the past year or so. One of my odd little song associations that make sense only to myself. This time, though, the world should be a brighter place in "48 Hours".... :)