If Dean engineers a huge '06 victory for Dems in the Congress and Senate

[tk2kewl]

will he be able to step down as chair for an 08 Prez run?

[umtalal]

1. Let's just have the 2006 win first. Please.

[Aviation Pro]

6. Then Bush will be....

...impeached the day after the next Congress is seated.

[umtalal]

8. YES!!!!

[mzmolly]

2. He said he won't and I believe him.

Neeeext.

[ultraist]

3. I agree! He said he will complete his term and I believe him on this.

[tk2kewl]

5. Ok then, would the party encourage him to run?

[TwentyFive]

4. It would be a crime not to.

I think this a beautiful thing.

Howard Dean is raw passion. People love that...they can feel it in their bones! Compared to him...other politicans are just a dry amalgamation of opinion polls, spin masters, handlers and position papers.

[Rowdyboy]

7. Howard Dean faces nearly IMPOSSIBLE odds in 2006...

If he breaks even, it will be a monumental victory. I'm so pumped right now that I'm willing to bet he'll do better than break even, but you must understand that many of the senate seats open that year are from red states and there's nothing he can really do to influence that. He holds the most important position in the party, but he still must rely on the power of persuasion.

[Hippo_Tron]

11. I don't think that Gingrich was expected to do so well either

But I agree that we have a bit of a problem in 2006. However, if we are going to win, we need to start thinking positively. First, the one blue state senator, Santorum is vulnerable and we need to make him vulnerable. Nevada and Ohio were very close states in 2000 and 2004. Therefore, Ensign and DeWine should be vulnerable. If these two vote for Social Security "reform" then we need to frame the issue such that thousands of angry seniors will be rushing to the polls to outst these assholes. Bill Frist is retireing in Tennesee, Harold Ford will probably run for the Democrats. Ford can win by high African American turnout and by running a negative campaign that makes his GOP opponent look like a turd. Oh yea, Mark Warner could challenge Allen in Virginia and have a very good chance of winning. Warner could use social security against Allen, who will almost certainly vote for it. Oh yea, how about that douche bag Jim Talent from Missouri, he's had less than one term he's certainly at least vulnerable in a close state.

[janx]

15. True. This isn't going to be quick. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

9. ABM...Anyone But McAuliffe

He went 0-3 in Congressionals and hurt the local parties even harder. Anyone is an improvement.

I'm not looking beyond 2006, either, as without Democratic control of the House, we really won't be able to shut the right wing down. If his expertise and energy translates into 10 to 15 house seats in 2006 then he's done more for us than he would as President. Then if he can add another 10 to 20 after that, then we're starting to talk about a return to sanity. That's so far removed right now.

[Dookus]

10. Anything's possible

but DNC chair is generally not a stepping-stone to higher office. In fact, I don't know of any chair who's gone on to elected office.

Dean will be a great chair, and if he chooses to run for office later, good for him. But I don't think a presidential run in '08 is in the cards.

[tritsofme]

12. Poppy Bush was RNC Chair during the Nixon years

But that's about the only one I can think of right now who went on to be president.

[MR. ELECTABLE]

13. Ronald Reagan too...

Ran for president in '76-- was the front runner-- defeated by establishment republicans. (Although the race was very close).

Ran for head of rNC in '77-- had some successes-- resigned and ran for pres in '80.

A lot of the talking heads see parallels between Dean and reagan. Except reagan was a buffoon.

[Itsthetruth]

14. Dean Going After Corporate Bucks?

Will Dean be chasing after big corporate bucks and what will he offer them in return for their money?