Can Howard Dean make a difference as DNC Chair?

[Nightjock]

I ask this as a legitimate question seeking an answer.
So many people on this board are more knowledgable than me about the inside "dirt" and "wheeling and dealing". I have become a big Dean fan and I hope that a man with "balls" can make a difference. With the exception of Dean and Boxer, I feel like my whole party has been castrated.

[SW FL Dem]

1. I wasn't a Dean supporter during the primaries

But I think he can bring a lot of new energy and ideas to the party. We desperately need some changes cuz what we've been doing isn't working.

[liberalnurse]

4. That about sizes things up.

We need a breath of fresh air ....or maybe a wind storm.....Dean is up to the task. He is very focused and determined to dedicate every waking moment to the mission.

[Clark2008]

2. What are the Dems in for with the media?

The reason I asked was this comment:

"After 10 years, you wonder if Democrats are running out of ways to say no," said Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, the House majority leader. "But then again, if they make Howard Dean the party chairman, I guess they'll just start screaming it." The pool of reporters LAUGHED HEARTILY.

:mad:

Reporters should be robots at press conferences and interviews - they certainly should not be laughing at a felon (or possible felon).

[liberalnurse]

7. Delay will be the one left screaming!

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Beats me..

because the job is largely big-time fundraising, not the nickels and dimes he got through his website.

The job also is dealing with day-to-day Democrats-- the ones at the local levels who don't give a rat's ass about national issues and have their own state problems. That includes a lot of congresscritters, too. They all have to go home at some point and deal with their county leaders and watch their backs at the local level. The way the House is set up, they usually have more to fear from other Democrats than from Republicans.

It's a tricky job, and while there may be a lot of power involved to change some things, there are thousands of people in the party with their own agendas, so it would be a miracle if there are many changes no matter who gets the job.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. But Dean understands

that what is needed is an emphasis on the grass-roots politics. He has said that, as chair of the DNC, he would be working to rebuild the party from the bottom up. The fact that he was involved in getting people running for state and county offices elected shows that he walks his talk on this matter.

As for fundraising-I think he can manage garnering the big bucks, but I also think he can show how those nickel and dimes add up-especially when they are donated by thousands upon thousands who have become politically involved.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Let me make this clear...

that I don't know whether or not he'll make a difference, and hope he will, but "grass-roots" isn't as easy as many think.

Here in lil ol' Joisey, he'll have to deal with everyone from Newark's mayor James to Congressman Menendez, and a lot of others in between. None of them, even Menendez, think national issues are more important than keeping local power. They are rarely mentioned, even during elections.

It's nice speechifying, but the reality bites.

[mdhunter]

6. Well, all I can say is that I hope the establishment lets him try. (nt)

[KerryReallyWon]

8. Will he scream about the election fraud???

We need someone to lead on this....

[Democrat Dragon]

10. Good leadership

Dean can *hopefuly* provide good leadership becasue right now, the Dems are like a buch of people trying to get something done, but instead they all do their own thing.

I'm not sure but I read somewhere(I believe it was the draft dean website), that Dean mentioned he would contest every election that seesm suspicious.

[Rowdyboy]

11. I expect to see Dean on Sunday morning shows constantly and

I expect him to get better at watching what he says and how he says it. He's a brilliant man and this is his chance to reinvent himself as the spokesman for a resurgent Democratic party. He won't hesitate to call bullshit when Russert or any of the other media whores start slinging their particular brand of shit.

He's a stand-up guy, quick on his feet, smart and he radiates decency. I backed Clark for president in 2004 but I wholeheartedly support Dean for chair now. He's what is best for my party.

[hootinholler]

12. If he can delegate the fundraising and ...

Focus on party organization of resistance to the corporatista junta, then yes, I think he will.

The path in my view should be speaking truth to the grass roots and getting out of thier way.

In any event he won't be nearly as boring as Mac

-Hoot

[McCamy Taylor]

13. Yes! Media savy! Good fundraiser! Good people sense! Charismatic!

The MSM will attempt a blackout, but even if they do he can still be effective behind the scenes as a manager. And he sure knows ho wto mobilize the base!

[NationalEnquirer]

14. Hell YEAH!

Believe me, with Dean, we will be infused with all those young people, those good liberals who want to be a part of the Democratic Party again!
What he did with the internet and all that money, that was an unheard of success!
Nothing but good can come of this, despite what the Repunks and the nay sayers are saying.
Look, what has 8+ years of Terry McAuluff (sp?) done for us? It has been DISASTROUS!

[smartvoter]

15. He sure as hell can't do any worse than we've had so far. nt