NM Governor Richardson Distances Himself From Dean

[brentspeak]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050607/ap_on_re_us/democrats_dean

By TIM McCAHILL, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 55 minutes ago 7 June 2005

BEDFORD, N.H. -
Howard Dean is not the Democratic Party's spokesman, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the latest party leader to distance himself from the outspoken chairman, said Tuesday.

"I believe Governor Dean is a good chairman. He's doing a good job," Richardson, the head of the Democratic Governors' Association, told reporters at the start of a two-day visit to New Hampshire. "He's not the spokesman for the party. It's governors, it's senators, it's party leaders."

....................................
(I think Dean and the party leadership need to get on the same page.)

[neuvocat]

1. Uh...what does Richardson think Dean's role is, exactly?

I could have sworn that the DNC chairman was elected by the nation's dem governors.

[Gman]

3. The chair is elected by

the members of the DNC which is not the governors but members elected from each state, usually at their state conventions.

[LiberalFighter]

22. The DNC makeup

Membership on the National Committee is composed of individuals selected by the Democratic Party organizations in each state

Each jurisdiction is represented by its Chair and the next highest ranking officer of the opposite sex. An additional 200 votes are distributed to the states and territories based on population, with each receiving a minimum of two additional seats. Each delegation must be equally divided between men and women.

Also seated on the DNC are representatives of various Democratic constituencies and elected officials. These include two U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives, two members of the College Democrats, and three representatives each from the Democratic Governors, Mayors, State Legislators, County Officials. Municipal Officials, Young Democrats, and the National Federation of Democratic Women. Fifty members are appointed by the DNC Chairmen, and approved by the DNC, and are considered "Members-at-Large."


****
It would seem that Richardson has the top elected Democratic official would have some serious input as to the DNC members from the State Party as well as have input as to the representatives of the Governors.

[movonne]

11. Everyone should write Richardson and tell him what you think....

[KittyWampus]

43. "I believe Governor Dean is a good chairman. He's doing a good job."

That's what Richardson said... you think we should all write and tell him he's out of line for saying that?

[confludemocrat]

61. Ever heard of "damning with faint praise"? This is it.

None of these politicians ever uses "good" when they can say great or wonderful. The message is sent. Look up what he said about Terry "DLC" McAuliffe as DNC Chair. Look up what any Demo. leader said about Richardson's tenure as Energy Secy, good was probably the best they could muster.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

69. Exactly. nt

[Robbien]

2. So Richardson believes Tom Delay is an honest man

Says a lot about Richardson's character.

[mac56]

4. What is Richardson's goddamn problem?

nm

[brentspeak]

5. This is what I don't understand

Why are these guys taking out their concerns about Dean IN PUBLIC?? Who needs FOX News and talk radio when you have Dems shooting their own party in the foot?

[mac56]

6. With friends like this, who needs enemies?!

Sheesh.

[Straight Shooter]

33. His problem is he's posturing to set himself up to run in 2008.

That twit did squat about the tainted election in New Mexico.

[AspenRose]

36. There it is

Everyone here (in NM) knows it, he's not fooling anyone.

[dissent1977]

47. That is what scares me

Richardson has always sent me bad vibes. I look at him and I see a DLC corporate whore. I am sick of Republicans calling themselves Democrats and then telling us we have a choice. Well we do have a choice, and its called voting third party. I promise the DLC that I will be supporting the Greens if they choose to nominate Richardson, Hillary, Kerry, or any of the others who enable the right-wing.

[KittyWampus]

44. Richardson? He Said Dean's Doing A Good Job. Why Do You Think He

has a problem?

"I believe Governor Dean is a good chairman. He's doing a good job."

Stop taking the Mediawhores bait

[Duncan Grant]

7. "I believe Governor Dean is a good chairman. He's doing a good job."

Why isn't the headline: NM Governor Richardson Endorses Dean ? :eyes:

Who's burning what candle at both ends? I don't get this recent strategy with Biden, Edwards and now Richardson - what gives?

[NWHarkness]

8. What do Edwards, Biden and Richardson have in common?

They all want to run for president in 2008 and see Dean as a powerful potential rival.

[mac56]

10. Nose-cutting-off

for face-spiting purposes.

[MaineDem]

25. Dean has insisted he will NOT be a candidate in '08

If he changes his mind he'll piss off the 400+ members of the DNC to whom he made this promise.

[lancdem]

29. He can't run

He's DNC chairman.

[Malikshah]

41. To answer your question...they are spineless political whores

who appear willing to sell out the rest of the country's dignity in order to win votes for 2008.

When one tries to please everyone all the time-- one loses oneself in the process...these folks appear to have done just that.

[KittyWampus]

42. Dean Already SAID He Isn't Running, Weren't You Listening To Him?

[Solly Mack]

9. None of you speak for the party.....you're supposed to speak

for the people. We decide who speaks for us....Not you.

Perhaps it's time those of you riding the government gravy train remembered that

[jobycom]

12. This is why we won't win with Dean's "strategy."

He's courting a third of the Democrats and alienating another third. The Democrats who worked hard to get people like Richardson, or Biden, or Edwards, elected feel personally insulted by Dean's insinuations.

We can hate it all we want, but that's the way it works. You don't win in a Democracy by upsetting large numbers of your core voters.

[mbperrin]

14. That DNC strategy's been great, though, yeah?

No use trying anything new with the great election record piled up in recent years!

[jobycom]

18. Quick Under the bed! In the closet! It's, it's, it's

THE DNC Boogeyman!!!

I didn't defend the DNC. I don't have to point out that mud tastes bad to point out that rocks are inedible.

[mbperrin]

20. Well, then, what are you defending? You talked about core

voters.
I've been a registered Democrat since I turned 18 in 1970. I support a woman's right to choose, gay marriage, education at all levels including Head Start and Affirmative Action, single-payer health care at the national level, open borders, the right to organize unions in any workplace, an increase in the minimum wage to a living wage of at least $12.50 an hour, indexed at double the CPI, reimposition of the 90% top rate for income tax, the death penalty for corporations convicted of mal-mis-or non-feasance, and four free years of college for each and every citizen. Now who's addressing my values and beliefs?

If I'm not the core, who is? 35 years of voting straight Democrat tickets has not been all that easy living here in west Texas. So who is supporting me, here?

Thanks.

[jobycom]

26. Not defending, I'm pointing out that Dean is screwing up

What we don't need is an attack on the people who have already won, and that includes blanket attacks on the DNC. If we win in some regions but lose other regions we hold now, we are no closer to achieving anything.

[brentspeak]

17. Agreed

Dean has to learn how to galvanize the party WITHOUT creating some kind of mass exodus and WITHOUT manufacturing PR headaches. If he can't do that, he's more harm than help.

[msongs]

19. where is your evidence that "large numbers of your core voters" are

upset? just a few political hacks as far as I have seen.

by the way, let's all thank richardson for his failure to deal effectively with voting machines in his own state, thus not doing much to help Kerry win New Mexico.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[PassingFair]

39. Right Then!

We'll stick with the DLC "strategy" of letting the republican house of cards fall down upon itself.
They'll cause a nationwide or planet wide depression!
Yea!
Great plan!
I don't want to wait until they fuck things up so bad that there's no putting them back together.
I have two small children.
They need medical care.
They need a chance to go to college someday.
They need food and a roof over their heads.
I don't want economic chaos.

We SHOULD have started crying foul while Clinton was still in office, passing NAFTA and allowing the infiltration of the SEC, etc. etc. etc.

We are LONG OVERDUE for calling these ruthless cheap labor republicans OUT!

GO HOWARD!

[jobycom]

63. Yeah, you know

I still don't see any mention of the DLC or DNC or any other Deaniac fantasy in my post, much less a defense of them. Maybe reading other responses before getting all hard and popping yours off prematurely would keep you from embarrassing ejaculations of opinions unrelated to my post? Just a thought.

[PassingFair]

67. I'm sorry!

I didn't know you had personal moderator status.
I bow to your discretion.

[dchill]

13. Richardson hearts Richardson

I agree with everything Dean has publicly said since becoming chairman. He speaks for me. But then, I'm a (Crackpot) Democrat.

I need to hear Richardson explain why he didn't want a recount in New Mexico before I need to hear him say anything else. 'Til then, he is the spokesman of No One.

[DrRang]

27. Richardson's sent mixed messages re Dean before . .

We went to a Dean rally in Albuquerque last year. It was after the wheels started coming off (or being pried off) the Dean campaign. Abq. mayor Marty Chavez and Richardson and some other state Dem leaders were on the platform with Dean. Richardson was saying the correct words, but boy, his face was telegraphing that he didn't want anything to do with Howard. You don't get as far up the political ladder as Richardson if you don't know what your face is doing in public. Richardson has some good qualities, like support for alternative energies, but he's very cozied up to the corporate honey pot.

[ananda]

15. geez, what an asshole

nt

[ckramer]

16. "I believe Governor Dean is a good chairman. He's doing a good job,"

"just like I runs New Mexico...smooth like a...a...a cup of rum bunch! I am not the spoken person for the State of New Mexico, you kidding me? It's the job of my executive secretoory in the corner office or that young ludy at the communication departemnt down the hall, (fart). New Mexico is too hot for my cool succulent body to endure and wheather over the White House region sounds delicious. Cough, cough, lady and gentelmen...See you 2008....in...in...(fart again)"

[flordehinojos]

21. what a pity and such contradictory words coming out of the lips of

richardson. why? does he believe what he is saying, or, unfortunately, is he sucking up to the likes of others in the democratic party who think they know best and so far have cost us elections galore?!

You go Howard Dean!

[leesa]

23. Another corporate tool weighs in. DO NOT let the media do it again

These so-called Dems need to be ousted.

[KittyWampus]

45. Actually, This Entire Thread Seems To Be DU'ers Suckered In YET AGAIN

by the Mediawhores.

DU'ers seem incapable of NOT taking the fucking bait.

ANY chance to bash a democrat whose name isn't Dean.

"I believe Governor Dean is a good chairman. He's doing a good job."

Why wasn't THAT the headline?

[high density]

51. What bait?

It wasn't the headline because it seems that too many of our Democratic politicians are too stupid to stop at the "He's doing a good job" line instead of adding lame shit like "He's no a spokesman for the party." Like hell he isn't!

If this crap was going on in the Republican party, they'd be blasting a fax to every Repuke politician telling them to cut out any sort of comments about doubts or negativity regarding their party's chairman. When are the Democrats going to learn how to play the media game in this country?

[confludemocrat]

60. Hello--they went after him and keep doing it

Because they are without a spine among them and yet want to be President. They are losing us or have lost us.

[killbotfactory]

24. Oh no Dean is destroying the party!

Why is the media playing this up so much. "He's a good chairman but I wouldn't have made the same comments as him." OOOOOoooooh! Harsh! :sarcasm:

[Eloriel]

28. Thus spake the DLC

Fuck him. It's such a shame that such an otherwise VERY attractive candidate is such a stooge for energy corporations -- AND the DLC.

Fuck him.

Here's my bet: Dean is going around the country doing very good things for state parties. Raising money, giving them resources. I think there's going to be a LOT of loyalty generated by all that momentum. I really do. I think those Dems who are choosing up sides about now, and not choosing to be standing in support of the Party Chair are going to be in for a rude awakening. Here's something else: there are a lot of Deaniacs in NM. A lot.

The flip side possibility is this: They run him out of the party chairmanship and -- ta da!! -- he's suddenly free to run for Prez in '08. WooHooooo!

In THAT case, GO, RICHARDSON!! Keep it up!!

[HereSince1628]

31. You are right, this is about the pain of slipping to a more distant orbit

Every DLC corporatist is making the same noise.

Dean is looking to 2008 and beyond. American jingoism and military adventurism is turning Americans sour. Outsourcing is doing the same.

The international interventionist, corporatist philosophy is already showing that it is likely to be in eclipse by 2008.

Dean is positioning the Party to succeed with a population with different needs than those which the DLC concieved in the mid 1980's.

[candy331]

40. Sounds good Eloriel, I hope they do it to Dean run him out. Maybe

Dean sees it to. Maybe he knows the rotten putrid that lies under neath and is steadily watching it ooze out.

[Gyre]

30. Well, the DLC knew Dean wasn't their choice

for a reason. His style clashes violently with their simpering approach to "leadership". However, for whatever reason they've been losing consistantly, and they lose political capital everytime that happens and a say in how things are run. That has to be how Dean became chairman. A few more losses and the DLC will be a noisome footnote in Decmocratic political history.

Gyre

[AlCzervik]

32. yup, Richardson has never been a fan of Dean, i'm tired of the DLC

wing or the "Democratic light caucus' stepping in and trying to call the shots, what thery're doing isn't working so why not try something new?

[martymar64]

34. Fuck that DLC Stooge!

Richardson is quick to jump on Dean but says jack shit about Rethug lies and smears (oooh, the Repubs might get mad at us!).

Pussy

[Gloria]

35. Oh, so this is the mantra now...Dean is not the spokesman...

Meanwhile...the state of NM now has a jet for the governor, who has already used it to visit NH......

It sucks.

[AspenRose]

37. You saw that jet on the news too, huh....

:puke:


Richardson is only interested in Richardson.

[Gloria]

48. Richardson bugs the hell out of me.....he's so smooth and glib,

he's got the charm....but his alliances really suck. And I have the awful feeling that he's going to go to the head of the class....

[2Design]

38. dean is the only one with guts - the rethugs are always saying

things worse than anything dean has said and no one goes after them or distances themselves - the rethugs all get behind hannity and rush and they say really outrageous things

[burrowowl]

46. I think I am going

to call Bill and let him know what I think. He is a DLCer!

[Merlin]

49. Howard = Bad Cop. Finally, a man with cajones. Sorry Richardson, not you.

Howard is the "Bad Cop" to all of the Dem establishmentarian "Good Cops" who think the only way to get things done is to be nice and ornate and try to work with the fucking fascists who have seized control of this country precisely because of the complacency and traditionalism of dudes like Richardson.

[high density]

50. Blah blah blah. Dean is a spokesman.

I dunno why the Republicans have been able to talk all nutty about Democrats for decades without notice, but when Dean starts talking nasty about Republicans he gets these lame headlines from newspapers and then fellow Democrats start scolding him for speaking his mind. Richardson, Edwards, Biden, et al need to get a clue and start taking issue with the nutjob Republicans we've got running this country instead of questioning the chairman of the Democratic party.

[Strawman]

52. what a farce: the "centrist" (read "electable") primary heats up

our leaders relentlessly pursue media labels while the country goes to hell in a handbasket. You don't see Chimpy taking the bait when Delay threatens the judiciary, but our "moderates" eagerly cannibalize Dean.

[Jammer]

53. Dean Might need to go

many of my friends are getting concerned that we have a lose cannon on our hands. Maybe we need to reel him in a little

[Strawman]

54. we'll never win back diddly walking on egg shells

So Dean is prone to overstatements. Big deal. I'd rather have a guy with some passion who gets a little carried away now and then than some convictionless, uninspiring, money whore who needs to focus group test every phrase he utters.

Wasn't it awhile back that some stupid genocidal hillbilly Republican congressman joked about nuking Syria or something to that effect? Was every prominent Republican called out by the corporate media to denounce him? Now that's a seriously nutty statement that reveals true evil in the heart of an elected official. Dean made some red meat statements to the Democratic faithful that more or less said the Republicans are a party of white fundies and rich assholes who live high on the hog off of the work that the rest of us do. And you know what? He's basically right. Reign in my ass.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

55. your friends are your friends

my friends are energized and ready to fight the good fight.

[roguevalley]

56. where is richardson's addie? I want to e-mail his butt

[Duncan Grant]

64. My friends love him like bees love honey!

Finally a warrior (Dean) has emerged, speakin' truth to power. 'Bout fucking time.

Welcome to DU.

[Rainscents]

57. Richardson is NOT Democrat! If he was, he would had done something

about recount in NM. He want nothing to do with recounts and matter fact, he stoped Democrats from recount. Far as I'm concern, he is Republican!

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

58. My thoughts Exactly! What's he doing rallying against our wave maker Dean

He wants to pretend to be a Dem but always goes along with all opposition to the Dems.
He was for the war bigtime, he's tied in with a lot of govt. military money making projects...What the hell is he doing?
He should switch parties, not oppose "unity" of the Dems.

[confludemocrat]

59. Notice what a pack of Dem. jerkoffs it is who attack Dean

2008 candidates

Biden,
Richardson,
Edwards

All going nowhere fast.
---------------------
Dems who are silent:
Hillary,
Kerry

[Behind the Aegis]

62. Idiot.

It is one thing to have disagreements in private, but don't air dirty laundry in public. The reason we get our asses kicked in elections is because, rather than saying something like, "I may not agree, but...," the Democrats turn on one another. They are always "distancing" themselves from one another...no wonder we don't have a cohesive party. Don't like what Dean said, you are the fucking governor of NM, call him at the office!!! Don't blast him in public! Shit-fire, we do all the Rethugs work for them! They don't even have to attack Democrats because we are so busy attacking one another!

My above paragraph may sound odd, since it could be seen as an attack on Richardson, and it is. However, this is the DU. If I were talking to the media, or writing an opinion piece, I might be more inclined to say, "Richardson is certainly entitled to his opinion." We spend (in public) way too much effort and time attacking one another.

[rucky]

65. Then who IS the spokesperson for the party?

I see. Dem "in's" cave into public pressure and give Dean the chairmanship. then they gladly take all the money he's raised, undermined his position, and stab him in the back.

Can you blame people in power from fearing the man? He speaks truth.

[ngGale]

66. More Dean media hype...

so, he speaks to the little people - you and I. The internet people who represent the Dem base. Dean has raised money, and who did we have before? McAwful, and did we win with all the money he was suppose to have raised.:sarcasm: Dean is not a butt kisser, and we don't want him to be. Richardson can take a hike with the rest of the Repub Lites.

[mondo joe]

68. Good for Richardson and Dean, playing a game the GOP mastered

a long time ago.

Let one speaker speak LOUD to your base, and then let the candidate mildly distance themselves.

Then you get te benefit of both the appeal to the base and the appeal outside the base.

[Voltaire99]

70. Thank you, Gov. Richardson!

I appreciate very bit of whining from these timid, appeasing, centrist Dem politicians: pragmatically, it's useful to know who is on our side, as well as who we can stop caring about and helping.

Every seated Democrat must understand: the rules have changed. Giving aid and comfort to Republicans in this dark hour of Bush? Then you're on your own, bozos, now and in the future.