The strategists are bringing brought in to run the 08 campaign.

[madfloridian]

Just what the hell we needed, folks. We need to be getting it out of their hands. The comments in this thread from Huff Post are more revealing than the post itself. These guys are working in a group, and Harold Ickes is forming his own with a former DNC staffer.

They are going to run things in 08. We don't need so many strategists taking over things.

Dean announced he is alloting 12 milion for a GOTV effort, but no, that is not enough for them. They want millions more. I have wondered why the segments of the party do not pool their resources, keep the consultants out, and work together.

You just thought you had a real choice.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/07/31/top-democratic-organizers_n_26125.html

Top Democratic Organizers Joining Forces To Write 2008 “Road Map”

"Three of the Democratic Party's top field organizers have formed a group to provide their party's 2008 presidential nominee with road maps to victory in the dozen or so battleground states.

The effort is known as the Atlas Project and is being organized by political operatives Steve Rosenthal, Michael Whouley and Mary Beth Cahill. The group will analyze election data, interview local Democrats, and mount a polling and targeting effort to devise a comprehensive strategy to win votes in these states.

That is the role of the DNC. But they are going to do it. Two of the them worked for the Kerry Campaign, Rosenthal was with ACT

The article doesn't say it, but Harold Ickes, a Clinton advisor is forming his database and GOTV effort to the tune of 10 to 12 million. When can we offically start calling this ridiculous?

And here is the plan Dean came out with week, which is in addition to and cooperation with the state parties, who are really the ones who get the vote out.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=70229

There was not a word from anyone in the party about this press release.

Who is going to pay those consultants, huh? Whouley especially is very expensive. That is the DCCC money I believe, the money they want you to donate to elect candidates. Where is Ickes getting his money for the database effort?

When I donate to the DNC, I know they are going to spend a major amount on rebuilding. I expect it to be that way. That is its job. I don't expect the other groups to hire all these expensive strategists into of pooling their resources and working together.

[NoodleBoy]

1. sounds more like they're developing a consulting firm for candidates

which would be hired by the candidates with the money they raised, not the DNC.

for the presidential campaign, it's usually a spiderweb, with the candidate's campaign doing much work, the DNC doing its best, then state and local campaigns, so it's not just one big effort, more like smaller ones focusing on different sectors.

candidate campaigns usually focus on likely swing voters, while the DNC and state and local parties focus most of their efforts on bringing out Dems and Inds likely to vote D.

[madfloridian]

4. Rahm is calling in Whouley et al. He said so.

He is chair of DCCC.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/01/AR2006080101332.html

No one is really for sure who got Ickes to start his database, but he is a Hillary advisor.

[NoPasaran]

2. Mary Beth Cahill?

The genius behind Kerry's road to the White House?

She couldn't devise a strategy to escape from a wet paper bag!

Is it still Shark Week?

[Greyhound]

5. What? They're not bringing Brazile back too? That would complete

the set.

Democratic Political Consultants Inc. © "Lowering expectations since 1980".

[Totally Committed]

3. Geez...........

No Cahill

No Shrum

NO Carville, Begala, or any of the K Street A**HOLES anymore.

Please, please, please.

Crop-kick 'em ALL through the goalpost of life for once and for all!

TC

[MaineDem]

6. This looks to be independent of the DNC and the DCCC/SCC

Can't fault anyone for doing this on their own.

[madfloridian]

7. Rahm said he is calling in Whouley , said they are funding it.

"The Senate and House campaign committees are creating their own get-out-the-vote operations instead, using money that otherwise would fund television advertising and other election-year efforts. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) -- who no longer speaks to Dean because of their strategic differences -- is planning to ask lawmakers and donors to help fund a new turnout program run by House Democrats. He recruited Michael Whouley, a specialist in Democratic turnout, to help oversee it.

"I am not waiting for anyone anymore who said they were going to" build a turnout operation."

That's pretty clear.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/01/AR2006080101332.html

Whouley is very expensive.

[NoodleBoy]

8. he didn't say he was hiring the new firm, though.

big difference.