The Dean strategy! By the RNC

[marshmellow]

The 2004 candidate that can shrug off all the planted stories and rally support from the ranks of the moderate democrats who have cache with mass media can win the presidency.

If Leiberman, Kerry and others hit the airwaves and convince America a change is necessary, Dean can win. But something says the DLC plans to wait until 2008 for it's best chances thereby paring political capital on Dean.

If the DLC stays on the sidelines with Dean as candidate, a third party will evolve (Voters perceiving a weak democratic party)that will ultimately split the democratic party. Perhaps that is foreseen and is the ultimate goal for the RNC.

If the DLC cuts and runs, Dean will receive 38% of the vote, Bush will receive 48% and claim a landslide or a mandate. God help us then.

[tjdee]

1. You're basing this on....?????

The DLC isn't *that powerful*, folks.

I've not seen any evidence that they are any stronger than the NAACP, etc. The only difference is that most (all?) of their members are election winners and that they're "moderates".

[jfkennedy]

15. Please the DLC is not that powerful

Wake up! The DLC is very powerful. The DLC is like the Republican National Committee (RNC) for Democrats.

The DLC has been just using different names from the 1960s and they have been picking the presidents in the United States from the day Kennedy was shot.

As far as I have read Republican lawyers control both the DLC and the RNC.

[w4rma]

17. The DNC (Democratic National Committee) is opposite the RNC

The DLC has no base of support. The DLC is a method for big corporations to lobby Democrats. Big corporations tell the DLC what to say to prod a Democrat into caving into their interests and not fight against them. The DLC no longer represents small buisnesses as it was first created to do.

[JNelson6563]

19. I'd like to take this opportunity to say

something I never thought I would:

I agree with you completely tjdee. Seems to me too much credit/weight is given to the DLC. Way too much.

Julie

[bryant69]

2. I can see the present

I know that's not the most impressive of gifts, particularly compared to Marshmellow's apparent gift to see the future, but, my eerie power to see what's going on right now tells me that we already have a left alternative to the Democratic party. I'm sensing . . . a color . . .

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Northwind]

3. Uh, NO

The DLC does not run the show or even command a very large loayl base within the party. They got a lot of clout when Clinton was elected, yes, but a great deal of that dried up in 2000. If Dean, or any non-DLC supported candidate wins the nomination and the WH, the DLC will simply fade inot irrelevence. THAT is why they are fighting hard against Dean or other candidates outside their control-they don't want to lose their power within the party. However, even if they did bolt, the effect would be miniscule.

[blm]

11. Dean is DLC.

He is not listed for 2003 because they only list current officeholders.

[PATRICK]

4. Isolate the obstructionists

I have a feeling a self-important clique(they are not important ANYWHERE except in their DLC chairs) needs to be pulled up short by the rest of the organization. I really doubt this weak group with its even weaker putative leadership and spokesmen is immune from dissenssion in its own ranks NOT just struggles with traditional core constituencies or liberals. They invite all the newly elected democrats(no thanks to their efforts) as a way of fluffing out the image of the DLC around the weak core. OK, let the governors tell them to get positive and supportive and otherwise shut up, no disgruntled leaks to the media.

We need to cut out the Wormtongues at election time and stop the pistols
aimed at feet and feet firmly planted in mouths by people needing egos stroked, advice followed.

If they want to set themselves up as Party spokesmen in a destructive way the media of course will grant them all the legitimacy they crave but cannot get from the people. They need to be put on a leash by wiser heads.

[KoKo]

7. Agree, Patrick.......many inflated egos and they need to be brought to

heel. Failed leadership, botched Presidential Selection, poor Mid-Term Elections, failure to fight Conservative Media, failure to take advantage of Jefford's switch, compliance to create the Imperial Presidency, etc., etc.

Who would look to the Dem Party Establishment and give them a passing report card grade. If it wasn't for the small minority in our party in the House and Senate who are clinging fragily to the Democratic Party Ideals (that great old party of the People) then things would be even worse than this miserable state of affairs we are in today.

I want to support that fragile minority, not beat it down into submission.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. What about the DLC statements since its inception

Would give you the idea we wouldn't support Dean?
This is childish speculation based on fearmongering fools.
The DLC has always, always, always supported the Democratic nominee,period.
Go back to bashing Kerry. It does just about as much good.

PS. I belive in the scheme of things there's this bad guy named George W. Bush. Check it out.
:nuke:

[niceypoo]

6. The DLC strategy lost us the midterms

Their way turns voters off. People didnt vote in the midterms because there was no difference between the repukes and the democrats. The whole tack soured the democratic base. Now they want to continue this losing strategy in 04. They read Bushes polls and this tells them to go the Bush route....endless war and loonie tax cuts. Its a failing way to go. Save us Howard Dean! They've gone mad!

[Capn Sunshine]

10. I believe that "strategy " was embraced by the DNC

Led by Gephardt and Daschle.

Yeah, it sucked. Bad. You'd think they'd learnthe tiny fraction of swing voters will be outdone by newly energized Dean voters from outside that dead end loop.

[Larkspur]

8. Well, we know for sure that Al Gore will support whoever the nominee is

and while that will not enlist the help of the DLC by default, it will show what kind of weasals the DLC are who don't support the nominee, especially if it is Dean.

The problem with the DLC right now is not so much the entire group, but its current leadership -- Al From and Bruce Reed.

Dean's plan is not to be dependent upon one main group for support. By building a base of millions he can best offset a DLC leadership revolt from his campaign. Kerry, Edwards, Lieberman are dependent upon the DLC leadership for support and that will affect their policies in the long run.

[blm]

13. Haha...when did

Kerry ever rely on support from the DLC? He didn't take their corporate pac money, and his votes remained pro-environment, pro-labor and pro-small business.

Dean governed for 11 years AS a DLC centrist and is one of Evan Bayh's best friends. YOU bought that dog and pony show.

[Larkspur]

16. I'm a moderate liberal, not a leftwing nut or socialist

Dean's political positions are very similar to my parents, and I respected my parents. Maybe that's why I'm attracted to Dean.

The problem with the DLC is it's current leadership, not necessarily its ideas. The current leadership has been drifting right. Dean doesn't support the current leadership's positions, but he has said that some of the DLC's ideas are useful. That's fine.

[dolstein]

9. I see you're already blaming Dean's loss on the DLC

How (im)mature -- and utterly predictable -- of you.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. I Find These Intramural Battles Quite Perplexing

As I understand it the DLC is trying to position the Democratic party as the centrist alternative to those on the far left and the far right. The so called Third Way.

Last night I watched Howard Dean in an interview with Bill Press and he specifically rejected the liberal label and embraced the centrist label. He touted his pro gun record and emphasis on balancing budgets to bolster his conservative credentials while touting his commitment to gay rights and univeral health care to bolster his liberal credentials.


Is there as much room between Howard Dean and the DLC as his supporters would have you believe and is this more a battle over turf than policy.

[blindpig]

14. DLC is poison

The DLC is the Democratic branch of corporate america inc. There can be no real progress if they are involved. The only thing they bring is money with strings attached.

[Larkspur]

18. The problem is how the media has defined the word "liberal"

It's come to be defined as an irresponsible tax and spend person. Dean has repeatedly said that if you call his desire to balance the budget liberal, by all means call him a liberal.

When my mother defined herself as a liberal, the words "irresponsible behavior" and "socialist" were not part of that definition. Like Dean, she believed that government had a role to manage the commonwealth and that individual citizens and businesses had responsiblities to contribute to the welfare of the commonwealth.

Liberals, I know today, believe that they are entitled to government funds just because they suffer a hardship, including ones they intentionally got themselves into. I don't have a problem helping people get back on their feet after suffering a tragedy, but I expect these people to eventually pull their own weight and not be parasites on taxpayers.