Howard Dean: Now He Has the Power

[kris10ep]

Now He Has the Power
by John Nichols

 
from the March 7, 2005 issue of The Nation

With the selection of Howard Dean as its chairman, the 213-year-old Democratic Party has become something it has not been for a long time: exciting. A measure of that came three days before the 447 members of the Democratic National Committee chose him, at a pre-victory party Dean held in a microbrewery just blocks from DNC headquarters. Hundreds of his mostly young, mostly liberal supporters packed the place to hear Dean declare the Democrats to be the "party of the future." They also got a signal that he remained "their man," not the neutered version of himself that party insiders were still hoping he might become in his new role. When a backer bellowed the updated Harry Truman slogan that became a mantra for Dean's presidential campaign-"Give 'em hell, Howard!"-a wicked grin rippled across Dean's face. "I'm trying to be restrained in my new role," he chirped. "I may be looking for a three-piece suit." Then he burst into laughter and exclaimed, "Fat chance!"

The crowd cheered. Reporters flipped open notebooks. A faint shudder was heard from the offices of Congressional Democratic leaders. And Republicans, recalling the Iowa caucus incident that so damaged Dean's presidential prospects, repeated their tired take on the Vermonter's political resurrection: "It's a scream."

But unlike past DNC chairs, Dean won't have to scream for attention. Taking over as chairman of a party that is locked out of the White House and unable to muster anything more than a "minority leader" to flex its legislative muscle, Dean has positioned himself as the most camera-ready Democrat in the country. As such, he is in a position to make his party-as opposed to an individual candidate or faction-more newsworthy and potentially more dangerous than it has been in decades. What remains to be seen, however, is whether Dean's tenure will prove merely a wild ride or a ride into the flourishing future the new chair promises: with huge gains in the 2006 elections and a Democratic President marching down Pennsylvania Avenue on January 20, 2009.

Howard Dean has become the Democratic Party's Rorschach test. Frustrated grassroots activists and donors see him as the tribune of their antiwar, anticorporate and, above all, anti-Bush views. Big thinkers see him as an idea filter who understands the potential of neglected issues and strategies. State and local party officials recognize him as a former governor who understands that Democrats can compete in all fifty states and is more likely to listen to them than Congressional leaders who remain obsessed with "targeted" states and races. Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson sums up the pro-Dean sentiment when he says Dean will "bring new spirit and new energy to the party, the likes of which we haven't seen in a long time." But Thompson's enthusiasm is not echoed by the Democratic insiders in DC who have gotten so used to playing politics by GOP rules that they see Dean as a "madman" on a suicide mission that will wreck everything they know. New Republic commentator Jonathan Chait put their fears into words when he grumbled that "Dean, with his intense secularism, arrogant style, throngs of high-profile counterculture supporters and association with the peace movement, is the precise opposite of the image Democrats want to send out."

more....

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0217-21.htm

[hippiechick]

1. 'Scuse me ?

"... "Dean, with his intense secularism, arrogant style, throngs of high-profile counterculture supporters and association with the peace movement, is the precise opposite of the image Democrats want to send out..."

Why in the world would the party proper want to shy away from a modern, upbeat, energized image and instead continue to sludge along behind the GOP with their tails between their legs like beaten dogs begging for an occassional pat on the head ?

:shrug:

[Cha]

5. That has made us Losers for the last

four years?! I wonder about jonathon chait and what his agenda is?

[Capn Sunshine]

9. It's been almost TEN YEARS Zidzi

The institutionals in DC are so used to losing they don't know what else to do, they think that playing by republican rules and allowing neocon framing of all debate is how it's done.

The completely foreign apporach that requires being energized opposition not only scraes them, but they simply can't realte.

Miss you BTW. :hi:

[Worst Username Ever]

2. Well I hope these "democratic insiders" get left in the dust.

I did not vote for him in the primaries, but Dean is the man for this job, and the new democratic party.

[murray hill farm]

3. yes...lets send out that message...and more!

I hope that Dean and all of us have learned a lesson from the repugs..that we need to hire the best pr and ad people possible...and put out a message that will be heard again and again by the poor, the middle class, the multitude of different Christian religions in the country...all of the millions who have been taken in by the repugs by ads and more ads and billboards..we need to "sell" the Democratic party..and we need people to help who are the best in the world..to show us how to do just that...and to do it in a way that will sell it to everyone...and do it in the same way that products are sold...no diff than a detergent or candy bar or a deoderant product. IN the usa, people are sold on everthing and it is done with image and cute cartoon characters and cutsy ads...and it works.

[Cha]

4. I like how John Nichols thinks..

And what's up with jonathan chait when he says.."Dean, with his intense secularism"

"New Republic commentator Jonathan Chait put their fears into words when he grumbled that "Dean, with his intense secularism, arrogant style, throngs of high-profile counterculture supporters and association with the peace movement, is the precise opposite of the image Democrats want to send out."

WTF does chait know about Dean and his faith?

This is a great article ..thank you!

[mandyky]

12. More and more TNR has become the Lieberman wing

of the Democratic party. Interpret that as the DLC wing of the Democratic Party. I am so glad Dean got the chairmanship, hopefully he isn't being hobbled by Congressional folk.

[Larkspur]

6. No, Dean won't be setting policy...

When Reid suggested that Justice Antonin Scalia would be an acceptable Chief Justice, Dean disagreed. That created a stir in Washington, including an "it's not your job to set policy" admonishment from outgoing chair Terry McAuliffe. But it didn't hurt Dean with DNC members. "That, to me, is one more reason to elect him chairman," says Roy.

But he'll set the tone and by continuing to champion core Democratic values, he may just help give the anti-Dean Hill Dems a backbone transplant whether they like it or not.

[Demeter]

7. Since Nobody Else Is Setting Policy, and Dean Hears America Talking

I say let Dean set the policy, since he is the only one listening.

[michaelwb]

8. It's better than

It's better than the Repubs setting the policy for the Democrats like it seems to have been.

You like the war, so do we!

You hate civil liberties, so do we!

You want tax cuts for the wealthy, so do we!

etc.

[Capn Sunshine]

10. I don't think Chait read this at all-Howard Dean's plan

FYI, CHAIRMAN HOWARD DEANS DNC PLAN is great reading if you haven't had a chance to review it.

It threatens those who are used to doing nothing and getting paid for it, yes. It involves actual work.

[SharonAnn]

13. Thank you. That's exactly what I needed

for a newsletter I'm writing to our Democratic Party members.

I was looking for something that summarized the energy and focus that he brings.

[orpupilofnature57]

11. A "centrist" can never master asymmetry.Progressive agenda

:thumbsdown: Nothing against Deanocrats, but liberals with guts are the only people meant to guide this party.