New York GOP leader attacks Dean

[twaddler01]

By MARC HUMBERT
AP Political Writer

February 14, 2005, 2:27 PM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York's Republican state chairman said Monday that Howard Dean's election as Democratic national chairman shows the rival party's leaders "have refused to learn the lessons of the past two election cycles."

"Howard Dean is the personification of today's national Democratic Party _ elite, radical, out-of-control, and sadly out-of-touch with ordinary Americans," said state GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik.

"The Democrats simply have refused to learn the lessons of the past two election cycles, and now they can be accurately called the party of Barbara Boxer, Lynne Stewart and Howard Dean," Minarik added.

Boxer is a liberal Democratic senator from California. Stewart is a New York City-based veteran civil rights lawyer convicted last week of helping terrorists by smuggling messages from one of her imprisoned clients, a radical Egyptian sheik, to his colleagues on the outside. Stewart has said her conviction will be appealed.

Minarik's Democratic counterpart in New York, Herman Farrell, was dismissive of the GOP leader's statements.

"The New York Republican Party is in shambles," the state Democratic chairman said. "You are broke and fighting among yourselves. Governor (George) Pataki's popularity ratings have sunk to record lows. In the last decade, you have lost seats in both houses in Albany, both houses in Washington, statewide and in counties across the state.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--dean-minarik0214feb14,0,7252851.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

[NYC Liberal]

1. LOL! You can tell they're scared shitless. Why else would they

be so concerned with how the Democratic Party is organized?

[TroglodyteScholar]

6. Dean is something the wingnuts OUGHT to fear...(eom)

edit: ridiculous typo in title

[Journeyman]

8. Very true. If we're in such a shambles. . .

why not keep quiet about it and let us destroy ourselves. What's that old saying, "Never interrupt an enemy when he's trying to shoot himself in the foot."

[okieinpain]

13. thank you. and why are we now the party of "Lynne Stewart"

I've never even heard of her till she got convicted. so I guess the repugs are the party of jeff gannon, ann coulter, and the klan.

[oasis]

55. Lynne Stewart? Where's that coming from? Was he asked to explain?

[L.A.dweller]

71. Of course he wasn't asked to explain.

Journalism today is wack. Democrat's need to start talking like the Repubs. Dean's response was way to wordy and intelligent. The GOP has their rhetoric down to simple name calling and THAT gets people's attention.

[Coastie for Truth]

44. They a scared out of their minds - a victory for core Dem values

Dean's election was a victory for the core Democratic Values
1. No more elective, pre-emptive aggressive "wars of choice."
2. Preserve Social Security as social insurance.
3. Preserve Medicare/Medicaid as social insurance.
4. Real education - not "NCLB" sloganeering
5. Kyoto
6. An end to Union Decertifications and ERISA Plan Terminations

And what should really scare the living crap out of the GOP is that the Faith Based Left and the Progressive Church Goers are finally coming out of their closets to fight for real faith based values - not this homophobia.

[w4rma]

56. It also means they can no longer hide behind Dems on their failed

policies. And with Dean at the helm, the GOP's failures *will* be pointed out, quickly and accurately.

[girl gone mad]

69. That's my take.

They were counting on us being Republican Lite for at leasst the next decade, now they are beside themselves trying to figure out how to quash the seeds of true opposition.

They may be world class political strategists, but they need to work on their poker faces.

[deacon]

70. lol yep, they do sound scared shitless n/t

[shanti]

72. exactly

and this is why they feel the need to fire the first salvos. they're were NOT going to let howard rest on his laurels and capture more hearts and minds.

they fight us like it's a life or death struggle, and we should too. what is the alternative??

[ibegurpard]

2. that they are even issuing comments

on who we chose to head the DNC is indicative of how much influence Dean can potentially have...a good thing.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

3. Isn't choosing DEAN learning from the past 2 elections?

i mean the DLC middle-of-the-road DOESN'T WORK. REPUBLICAN-LITE does not work.

I would think by choosing Dean we are showing a new path

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. They have to spin it this way...

Otherwise people might think there was really such a thing as a liberal.

[Zhade]

42. Yes. It was a coup and a repudiation of DLC tactics by the base.

I am DAMN proud of the Dems (I'm indy thanks to the likes of the DLC) for making this wise choice.

Ding dong, the DLC is dead!

Congrats again, all you Dems! :toast:

[BiggJawn]

77. That's what I thought...

Leave it to the GOP to tell us that what we need is bad for us, and what's bad for us is what we need....

[brainshrub]

4. Wow! What a complement!

"now they can be accurately called the party of Barbara Boxer, Lynne Stewart and Howard Dean," Minarik added.

:7


And this is bad how?

[w4rma]

57. The Lynne Stewart part would be, if it were true.

She has no connections to the Democratic Party and she was caught and indicted under President Clinton.

[LiberalinNC]

5. I am convinced that the Repugs are scared shitless of

Dean - and that they are trying to convince themselves that him in the role as our Chairperson is a bad thing, but we all know better!

[CrispyQ]

15. I sooooooo agree with you!

I also think they hope their constant belittling of him will make Democrats question if we should have selected Dean. As if!!!

Also, their constant re-playing of the Dean scream & poking fun at it. They are fearful cuz we have taken 'ownership' of the scream & are using it as our war cry. The last thing they want is for the Dems to reach a point where we say 'Enough is enough, we're gonna fight back!'

[AuntiBush]

7. Blab, Blab, Blab...

Sorry Repukers. This Democrat no longer buys into you're crap! Soon, they shall be over their holier-then-all selves!

Their spinning lies no longer hold any creedance!

:puke:

[Corgigal]

9. GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik

Who is this ass and where is a private eye when you need one?

[struggle4progress]

58. With his knickers in such a knot, he must have a skeleton in the closet.

[Dulcinea]

75. What a wanker.

Sounds like he should be taking care of his own problems!

[bunkerbuster1]

10. Filed under "take your 'advice' and shove it"

If I had a dime for every time a Repub offered helpful advice on how us poor, poor clueless Dems could get our act together and become a "national party once more", I could afford to be a Republican.

[InternalDialogue]

11. Their codewords are growing trite

>> "Howard Dean is the personification of today's national Democratic Party -- elite, radical, out-of-control, and sadly out-of-touch with ordinary Americans," said state GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik.

The truth is, he's intelligent ("elite"), progressive ("radical"), aggressive ("out-of-control") and aware of the fact that the monkeys have control of the zoo (actually, on this last one, Minarik is right, because when he says "sadly out of touch with ordinary Americans, he means simpleminded Bush-voters, so I'll give him that one).

[Maat]

14. Well-put.

I'd describe 'elite' as referring to someone who is not only intelligent, but well-educated and well-informed.

[InternalDialogue]

16. Reminds me of a conversation with a friend

She has been wondering for four years when it changed that this country no longer wants someone smarter than them as president?

[Maat]

52. Now that is a good question!

n/t

[Amonester]

20. is it just me or (?)

elite = have-mores (?), radical = (PNAC criminals (?)), out-of-control = (endless no-bid contracts (?) corruption (?) treason (?)), and sadly out-of-touch with ordinary Americans... (budget cuts (?) and others too numerous to mention...)

looks like the "mirror" syndrome to me

[ima_sinnic]

49. good one! welcome!

hang on, it's going to be a wild ride!
The People are mobilizing . . .
:toast:

[Jack The Tab]

12. Hahahaha - with every desperate jab, I get a little more hopeful...

the sheer fact that they are whining, WHINING about this so loudly and repeatedly makes me feel better and better about the future of our party.

This may be a less stressful few years.

[HockeyMom]

18. New York Republican Party

New York Republicans are fine ones to talk. In this state, it is the REPUBLICAN PARTY that is in SHAMBLES. lol Can you say CORRUPTION? Can you say NO CREDIBILITY?

[Salviati]

17. So these are the talking points:

""Howard Dean is the personification of today's national Democratic Party _ elite, radical, out-of-control, and sadly out-of-touch with ordinary Americans," said state GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik."

Howard needs to get in front of this and turn it back in their faces:

Elite: Notice how the republicans decry class warfare, except when they don't. Just what is it that makes someone "elite" anyway? Maybe they think that since Dean got so powerful from the Internet that he is 31337, and they f33r |-|i5 31i+3 5ki115 will pwn them.

Out of control: um... Dennis Hastert anyone. I mean the current republican party is out of control in every sense of the phrase. We've got ballooning deficits, a rising debt, stacked house ethics committees, and cabinet members who could be charged as war criminals. Why is Dean out of control? Oh yeah, he whooped once when he was excited... :eyes:

Out of touch: Which party is trying to ramrod through a drastic re-engineering of one of our countries most successful programs, despite the strong public sentiment against it? Which party is it that lambasted those concerned with realistic facts during the buildup to Iraq as being "part of the reality based community"?

Once again, we see another classic case of republican projection...

[DinahMoeHum]

19. I love the smell of the GOP sweat of fear. . .

it smells like good times ahead for Dean and the Dems!

:kick:

[SomewhereOutThere424]

21. I wonder...

What they call making bush condi and cheney the leaders of our nation representing the republican agenda? :eyes:

You'd think having one of the most contreversial presidents/cabinets in US history would make them rethink insulting the oppisite party based on who's leading them, before the american people start applying it to every party?

[kodi]

22. yes, yes, and the party is supported by self-admitted thespians too.

ther big and nasty smear is associating the attorney Lynne Stewert with the Democratic Party and linking her bizarre conviction as some sort of bono fides of Democrats supporting terrorists.

Lets see... how about bush's grandpappy supporting nazis?

[98geoduck]

23. I have repug relatives in NY and Admire Dean for honesty!

[realFedUp]

24. Put the bat up

that ought to shut em up.

[genieroze]

26. Screw them!!!!!

Edited to add, yeah we learned our lesson after the last two rigged sElections, that's why we want Dean. Are you scared Pukes?

[cally]

27. OK...NY Dems, Go after Mehlman!!!

Remember the lying hypocrite who engineered a Republican party power grab on the backs of Gays has been outed. Make it known what a hypocrite he is.

[rehema]

32. I agree, get Mehlman's skeletons out of the closet. n/t

[xxqqqzme]

28. why R the rethugs sending out

a NY STATE chair 2 do this?

[Debi]

29. Maybe he's right...

We really should just give up and hand the whole country over to them right now.

Howard Dean as Chair will only give us hope...can't have that now can we!:yourock:


DEAN DNC CHAIR.....WE HAVE THE POWER :kick:


:dem:

[AlCzervik]

30. well since it's the DEMOCRATIC chairman

what the GOP says about him matters no one wit.

[prodigal_green]

31. party's leaders "have refused to learn the lessons of the past two electio

Actually, this is completely wrong...instead of trying to go after the one or two percent so-called "swing" voters, Repukes activated their base. This is what Dean will do. So yeah, we did learn from the pukes.

[d_b]

33. This guy needs to get laid.

[pearl]

37. I say we get his phone number

And all give him a call tomorrow. Tell him to mind his own
damn business. And we resent him implying that we are terrorist.
Fuck him. :puke:

[Trish1168]

34. The GOP hasn't learned the lesson of the latest polls

which has them losing on every issue. Alot of people getting angry and feeling deceived. Every day, people are switching sides. The latest AP poll has almost 60% saying we're going in the wrong direction, and these numbers WILL grow for the following reasons.

1. War with Iran (wich will cost $$$$$)
2. Increase in twin deficits will force panic seeling of dollar
3. Economy will tank

All this will happen, despite that the MSM has been ignoring all of the illegal activities of this administration. Just wait until those issues can no longer get ignored!! Imagine people's surpise when they figure out that the media is engaged in a conspiracy of silence!

I know I was shocked, and I figured out that the TV media had serious problems 2 years ago during the run up to the war. Only since the election, however, have I been doing the research....and its amazing how much is being left out of the reporting.

I feel certain that if democrats can win back congress, W will be impeached. He's broken numerous laws.

This could happen if the economy tanks before then. I'm hoping it doesn't, but no one is doing anything to prevent it.

[deadparrot]

35. Gandhi....

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then
they fight you, then you win."

[Goldeneye]

36. This guy can shove it.

First and foremost, many of the bush voters were duped into voting for him. I'm not talking about the freepers who would never renounce their undying love for Bush under any circumstances. I'm talking about run of the mill people who still believed there were wmds in iraq, who believed there was a link between sadaam and al qaeda, who have no idea (thanks to our pos media) what the hell is going on. The republicans have real problems. They're the elitists and its starting to show. Republican farmers are mad. Old People who like SS are mad. I'm sure there are others. The only thing the GOP has left is attacks on the opposition, so naturally thats what they are going to use. I have faith in Dean, the Democrats, and America to pull through all this BS.

[not fooled]

67. Absolutely correct...

...a lot of * voters bought the sizzle, not the (rotting) steak: they thought they were voting for "morality" and "security", not corruption, endless war, and class warfare.

I live in an area w/ a lot of retirees and disabled on SSI, many of whom (tragically) are * supporters. In talking with them, it is immediately apparent that they literally have NO IDEA of *'s actual agenda and policies. They see * on MSM TV and think * represents patriotism and 'Murkan values :eyes: :puke: :mad:

If Dean can help just get the TRUTH out there, he will win adherents as folks like my neighbors wake up and realize how damaging *'s policies are to their interests.

A little troubling, though, to hear that the DNC chair supposedly does not affect policy, but rather acts in an organizational capacity??? Heard a Dem Senator interviewed; this guy said Dean would have little or no effect on the party's policies. I don't know if this is true or more wishful thinking on this guy's part (afraid of Dean shaking things up).

[Emboldened Chimp]

38. We DID learn a lesson from the past two elections, that's WHY he won...

What an asswipe.

[TrogL]

39. I wish they'd lay off the code words

Any time you hear one of these phrases "man on the street" or "ordinary Americans" or "real people" they're actually talking about neo-conservatives.

[geniph]

40. YEEEAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!!

I LOVE the idea of being the party of Barbara Boxer and Howard Dean! If anything can make me smile lately, it's that thought!

[coreystone]

41. If GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik asserts that..

"The Democrats simply have refused to learn the lessons of the past two election cycles, and now they can be accurately called the party of Barbara Boxer, Lynne Stewart and Howard Dean" , then why would he be concerned that the "lessons" were "not learned"?

It would "seem" that if Mr. Minarik's assertions that the Democratic party is "sadly out-of-touch with ordinary Americans", then, he would not need to take the time for a "press release" to inform the "ordinary Americans" of how "out-of-touch" that Dean and the Democratic Party is; concerning the issues that the "ordinary Americans" deem to be important in their lives.

It certainly would appear that there is a "need" to insure that the propaganda to discredit Dean is only the beginning of the Republican fear of Dean's "intestinal fortitude" and competence in the political arena.

Why waste "any" political capital" if one is neither fearful of the competition, as the "ordinary American" may perceive the political entities vying for power, or, take the chance that the negative bashing of Dean may only serve to illuminate the efforts Dean and the Democratic Party's strengths!!

[Binka]

43. They are Poop Stank and out of ideas

Just trying to get their stench off the radar. Sorry creepy fucks we are just positioning our guns. We have smelt yours for four years and we are gunning for ya now shit tards.

[coreystone]

45. Interesting vernacular! ..........

?

:-)

[Binka]

46. Their Poopy Pants Are Just Too Tight

Every nappy needs a change now and again.

[Arkana]

47. This is whack!

""The Democrats simply have refused to learn the lessons of the past two election cycles, and now they can be accurately called the party of Barbara Boxer, Lynne Stewart and Howard Dean," Minarik added."

Hmmm...I think I'm proud that the Democrats are known as the party of Barbara Boxer and Dr. Howard Dean. What about the rest of you?

[Joe Chi Minh]

48. Doesn't he mean

the FOP?

[RetroLounge]

50. Apparently this GOPig isn't too smart

Washington, DC -- When newly-minted NY State GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik recently announced he would handle media relations himself as a cost-saving measure, it was only a matter of time before a high profile error occurred.

Unfortunately for him, he screwed up right off the bat last week -- with the New York Times no less -- when he openly mused to Mike Slackman that he'd like Rudy Giuliani to challenge Hillary Clinton in 2006, had not yet asked him to do so, but planned to do so soon.

http://www.empirepage.com/capitolview/020105.html

RL

[RetroLounge]

51. Picture of Minarik

Apparently he's quite the little Dictator...

http://www.rochester-citynews.com/gbase/Gyrosite/Content?oid=oid%3A2366

RL

[katty]

53. they are already freaked out scared

maybe the DP is beginning to LEARN its lessons by sticking Dean in the face of the GOP. rover, et al is out to destroy the DP for good, Dean is well aware of this. and framing 'Lynne Stewart' between Boxer and Dean is typical of their tired nazi-psyops sound bite tactic.
this Lynne Steward association with the DP liberals will be the red meat that lures the yapping conservative pit bulls.

[shadowknows69]

54. "the party of Barbara Boxer, Lynne Stewart and Howard Dean"

and damn proud of it.

[oasis]

59. When did Lynne Stewart ascend to a position of party leadership?

I don't remnmber her giving any speeches at the Democratic convention.

[Hell in a Handbasket]

60. of course they're attacking him. they're not going to waste their energy

on lieberman, are they?

[d.l.Green]

61. His idea of accuracy sure is similar to *'s. As long as there's some

connection to terrorism, no matter how thin the thread, well, that proves the argument. Democrats=terrorists. Actually maybe it depends only on a thin thread- Iraq=terrorism but of course Saudi Arabia(9/11 highjackers)= hmmmmm? oil money!

[cyclezealot]

62. Finally , we are on the attack

After years of pandering to the repugs.

[havocmom]

63. Plenty of the Republicans in the rural little berg I reside in would've

voted for Dean in the Nov election if he had been the Dem standard bearer. They get the feeling he is for real and they like him. His position about states deciding gun control questions played well here, but mostly, people say they just get a feeling he really stands for America and not the corporate interests.

Blows me away every time I here one of the locals speak of Dean. The powers that have been in charge of both parties must really be having shit fits now! Nothing they hate more than a pol they haven't bought & paid for. :7

[Laurab]

64. They sure are scared...

the more I hear, the more I'm certain of it. The more they attack, the more afraid they are. I'm proud to be "the party of Howard Dean and Barbara Boxer". I'm not familiar with Stewart, but if they don't like her, she must be ok, too, or they're just throwing her name in there for the "terrorist" connection.

We are DEFINITELY on the right track!

[Voltaire99]

65. Would that the party were "radical"!

Even a tiny bit of radicalism would do wonders for these corporate jellyfish.

We'll see, shortly, whether Dean can set a new direction--and most importantly, whether the party wants to follow him. It is a long way from the Lieberman sickness to health.

[DemonFighterLives]

66. Minarik is mistaken

We are proud of Dean and Boxer and I think he and his ilk are going to have a hard time convincing people that the republicans are the guardians of all things American.
I don't know if this Minarik is the asshat, I'm thinking of, but if he is, then he is really a loser.

[SoCalDem]

68. Are the NY DEMS attacking the GOP party leader??

Why is it that only dem-bashing articles seem to make it into the "news"?

[DinahMoeHum]

76. Dems spokesman Howard Wolfson called out Minarik on his remarks.

Link:
http://www.nydailynews.com/02-15-2005/news/story/280949p-240771c.html

(snip)
Usually unflappable, state Democratic Party spokesman Howard Wolfson was so angered by the Stewart mention he suggested Minarik might have to square off with him if he again suggests Democrats and terrorists are bedfellows.

"I realize that it's been a while since the Republican Party has won any races in this state so a friendly word of advice - don't accuse the 5.5 million Democrats in this state of treason if you hope to win our votes," he said in a direct reply to Minarik.

"And if you make that mistake again you best be prepared to make it to my face," said Wolfson, "because we love this country much too much to allow you to ever question our patriotism."
(snip)


P.S. Wolfson used to be chief of staff for my current Congressional rep Nita Lowey (18th District, NY)


:kick::kick::kick:

[truthisfreedom]

73. good. let him be the lightning-rod for their energies.

he's not a candidate for anything.

[Hekate]

74. "Learn your lesson! Submit, I say, submit!"

When you can ice skate in hell, thank you.

Seems to me that maybe the DNC finally HAS caught on -- even a week before Dean's election I read that the DNC honchos were wondering if they should once again sabotage Howard Dean for being too outspoken. In the end he just had too many votes -- from delegates sent by the party's "activist base" they were so dismissive of two months ago.

Paul Krugman's correct: Howard Dean is no flaming liberal. But we already knew that; what he is is a blunt-spoken man of American values and character, and he's absolutely right that the Democratic Party has to by-god STAND FOR something or they'll never be able to convince anyone to vote for their candidates. Continually moving to the right benefits no one and convinces no one.

As for the Neocon/Theocon echo-chamber, the DNC could've elected the Pope himself for this position and would still have been savagely mocked from the right. There's no communicating with them, there's no bipartisanship; what they really want is simple: a one-party system in the US and abject silence from all those who disagree.

When pigs fly, fellas, when pigs fly.

Hekate

[Norquist Nemesis]

78. Sit down and shut up!

That's just what it reminded me of too! "Refused to learn" :eyes:

Well said, Hekate!