The Politico: The New Dean Political Plan: DNC Chairman has been meeting with world leaders

[DeepModem Mom]

The New Dean Political Plan
By: Roger Simon
March 15, 2007

Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean has been meeting with world leaders to repair "the extraordinary damage" that the Bush administration has done to America's image and to prepare the way for a new Democratic president.

"I am trying to build relationships with other governments in preparation for a Democratic takeover," Dean told me. "I want to make clear that there is an opposition in America and that we are ready to take power and that when we do, we are going to have much better relationships with them."...

***

Dean is very concerned about world affairs and believes that after the November election in 2008, the president-elect should take a month off and travel the world to bolster America's image.

"During the Cold War, we certainly had people who didn't like us, but they respected us," Dean said. "Now, unfortunately, they don't like us and they don't respect us. And that needs to be fixed. And I consider one of my informal jobs to help fix it with like-minded world leaders so we do have some relationships."...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3142.html

[theoldman]

1. When the people of Lichtenstein thumb their nose at you, you

know you have lost all respect.

[rcdean]

2. This is a very astute move.

He will be criticized for it by the right. But that will only draw attention to it and to "Cousin" Howard's guts and savvy in dealing with foreign affairs.

Somebody's got to do something. It might as well be him.

[movonne]

8. And the DLC... they want to get rid of him...

[napi21]

3. Good for Howard...AGAIN! i think his new plan will HELP Dems win.

I'm positive there are a lot of Americans who are very concerned bout how the US is currently seen right now, andTHOSE voters just might be swayed to vote for the Dem candidate after seeing the Chairman working to repair all the damage ShrubCo has done during his 8 year dictatorship!

[R_M]

4. Works for me. It makes sense to begin preparing for a...

new Democratic administration in 2009. We are favored to win and we need alot of time to repair the damage that Mr. Bush**t has done. Why not start now?!?

[MasonJar]

5. Howard Dean has certainly found an important niche in the Dem

Party. It is lucky for us dems that Howard lost the primaries; he is so strong at being party chairman of the DNC. If he had been our nominee, it would have been Howard who was cheated instead of Kerry. (Kerry, by the way is awesome in the Senate...it's where he belongs.) Dean has incredible ideas and the strength to implement them despite on-going criticism by fellow dems. Give 'em hell, Howard.

[Casablanca]

6. "It is lucky for us dems that Howard lost the primaries ..."

Yes, it was lucky that the DLC had the foresight to put Dean in a circular firing squad during the first primary debate. If they hadn't, we would have been saddled with an aggressive and savvy campaigner who would have responded to Republican attacks. Voters would have had solid information on which to base their decision to back him or not, rather than party innuendo and gossip, and we just can't have that. It was far better for us Dems that we had a candidate who knew when to throw in the towel, and who knows how to size up his chances before the fight.

Funny, but I get the impression that the qualities this article is lauding are excellent Presidential qualities than Party Chairman qualities. But I shudder to imagine the trouble us Dems would be in if Dean were talking to these foriegn dignitaries as President rather than as a marginalized party chairman.

[NJCher]

7. We have everything to gain from this approach

Once again, Dean proves he knows what he's doing. I really like--no scratch that--love this approach: by mending fences, the Dems show how they would handle American foreign relations. Most Americans are appalled and embarrassed at the Cowboy's go-it-alone approach and how he has taken our standing in the world to lower 'n a snake's belly status. Assuming the mantle of the office by reaching out like this also shows the world what a lame duck bush is. It also says we regard him as a usurper and nothing more than a stain (a real disastrous stain) on our history.

It shows we can't even stand to wait until he's gone!

Howard Dean--I loved him from the beginning. We owe so much to this man.



Cher

[PSPS]

9. This sounds good, but...

This sounds good, but without there being some justice done, resulting in the arrest and incarceration of bush, it won't really mean much.

Just how respected can any country be that allows its war criminals to live a life of coddled luxury?

[cascadiance]

10. Yup! Hope he makes a long stop at the Hague!!

Need to make quite a bit of plans there as a first step!

[Psephos]

11. Isn't this a violation of U.S. law governing private communication with foreign govts?

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000953----000-.html

U.S. CODE
TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 45 > § 953

§ 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments

Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.

Dean ought to stay focused on winning in 2008 (his job) and ease off on foreign intrigues (not his job).

[NJCher]

12. not relevant

That law is very specific. Where in the article does it say he is influencing other governments in regard to a specific measure? "Building good will" is not a "specific measure."

I do not see this law as pertinent to what Dean is doing.

What's beautiful about Dean's strategy is that what he's doing is implied. It is unwritten. It's the nonverbal communication. You seem to have missed that subtlety.

PSPS, our government absolutely must prosecute bush and his fellow traitors. That will be the ultimate test of what we are all about as a people. It will intolerable to me if they do not do so and, I would gather from the many comments here and elsewhere, to many other Americans.



Cher