Terry McAullife must go!

[donotpassgo]

Under his "quote endquote" "leadership" the Democratic Party has been eating itself and buckling under the weight of his ineptitude. This current recall catastrophe in California (my home state) should be the straw that breaks the camel's (or donkey's) back. His failure to bring the California Democratic Party to a strategic consensus considerably weakened the strength of the NO on recall message. Once the Bustamante campaing became a reality, McAullife resisted the notion of the No/Bustamante vote. Insiders say Cruz is running out of money and I'm sure this is in part, thanks to our fundraiser cum Party leader. Reports are that Gray Davis has already refused Bustamante access to his big money men.

The Democrats strategy is muddy and confused. The Schwarzengger team is a well oiled machine consisting of Hollywood flash, Party unity, and a consistent message of 'change' They Republicans are so tight that they can escape the fact that they've sold out their notions of conservate values, their hatred of Hollywood celebrities, and the lack of specifics in Schwarzeneggers speeches.

Under Mr. McAaullife, the Democrats have lost the Senate, the chance to defeat Jeb Bush, is trying to sabotage the outsider candidacy of Howard Dean, and is royally screwing up the Clifornia recall race. When a baseball team has a history of losing, you fire the manager. I think its time we look for someone new in leadership because I'm tired of getting whipped by the other side, due in large part to Mr. McAullife's leadership.

[gWbush is Mabus]

1. i agree

[Skidmore]

2. But....but....but....

he's such a great fundraiser....

Seriously, I agree with you and have been saying this since the 2000 selection.

[Loyal]

22. That's impossible

Terry didn't become DNC chair until 2001, so you couldn't possibly have been saying that.

[AntiCoup2K4]

3. Yeah, as much as the party has lost under his "leadership"...

You might almost think he's doing it on purpose. As if his "order" for no Democrat to run in California shouldn't have been a giant assed clue

[jrthin]

4. I agree. This man is

a dick head!

[Marlie]

5. I agree too

He should hang his head in shame for what's happened to the
democratics under his leadership. This also applies to Gephardt and
Daschle - look at the votes in both the congress and senate under
their fine leadership. They all need to go.

[LoneStarLiberal]

6. Amen and Huzzah!

Under his leadership the Democratic Party has done nothing but back pedal in the face of Republican pressure: First in the hijacking of Election 2000, second in ceding the opposition mantle in favor of bandwagoning with the administration on Iraq, third in giving NO support for the Texas Democratic Party opponents to redistricting, and fourth and finally making a complete clusterfuck out of the California recall election.

Who cares if he's a good fundraiser? I don't care if he can fundraise when he has already proven he can't run a first-class political party.

[liberalnurse]

7. You know who I really like....

It is the California State Senator, who is also head of the California DNC......I forget his name but he is on MSNBC each evening. A real voice!

Any one recall his name?

[Yupster]

21. Art Torres

He's a battler, but is able to do it with a smile.

[David__77]

25. Art Torres for DNC lead!

I would think that's a great idea. Torres is a wonderful chairman.

[sangh0]

8. Breaking News!!!

We don't like Lieberman either!

[xxqqqzme]

9. He should have been history

Nov, 02. BFD he's a great fundraiser. He can do that from someplace other than DNC chair. He is a sorry ass excuse and led the abandonment of the Democratic base. As Codepink says - You're Fired!

[diplomats]

10. I agree about the California situation

I hate to say this, but we probably should've dumped Davis a long time ago and rallied behind Bustamante or gotten someone like Dianne Feinstein to run.

[LoneStarLiberal]

12. Just Some Consistency, Please!

I think that either Davis would have been fine or Bustamante would have the election locked up if only the national party had jumped in the day after the announcement of the recall vote and had either:

1. Enforced strict discipline and rallied behind Davis.

or

2. Ditched Davis and rallied behind Bustamante.

Either 1 or 2 would have left the Democratic Party in better shape than what we now see.

[w13rd0]

14. There is no "enforcing of strict discipline" within the Democratic Party..

...just not consistent with our shared values (well, the values we are supposed to share anyway)...

[LoneStarLiberal]

19. I Should Have Qualified Better

You're exactly right and thank god there isn't "enforcement of strict discipline" or else we really would be Republican-lite!

What I should have said was something along these lines:

"The Democratic Party should have rallied behind Davis and strongly encouraged the entire liberal community in California to rally behind Davis and vote "NO" on the recall without voting "YES" to anyone on a second question."

I don't know the first thing about Bustamante, but his actions strike be as being consistent with someone who saw an opportunity precisely because of indecisive leadership at the national level. I think if the national party had been behind Davis from Day 1 there's a good chance Bustamante would not have broken ranks.

[David__77]

26. Discipline is a necessity.

We need a cadre-type organization. That would be a great strength for the party. A unified voice is a powerful thing. The unions know this, and the party needs to learn that too. The neocons, with their ideological roots in Trotskyism, learned the skill of propaganda and centralism, and we should learn from that experience.

[Clete]

15. DiFi?

"I voted for the Iraqi war resolution because Saddam was such a bad ass" DiFi? I don't think so.

[Clete]

11. There is no argument from me there.

Maybe we need to revise the DNC so that it is more in line with progressive ideals and yes I think a new chairman is needed.

[JaneQPublic]

13. How many chairmen has the GOP gone thru since Terry started?

Three! And they made out like bandits in the 2002 elections.

So, who has the authority to fire his sorry a$$, anyway?

[burythehatchet]

16. its Clinton's decision

Terry's his boy

[Snellius]

17. Nobody else wants the job.

There was a lot of talk about canning McAuliffe after the midterm debacle. But there's really no one to take his place. No one wants that thankless job. And as long as he stays off the talk shows, he's smart, enthusiastic, and 100% committed. Do you blame all of California's problems on Gray Davis? Why blame all the Democratic Party's problems on Terry McAuliffe.

[donotpassgo]

18. Because he IS the main probem IMHO

n/a

Enron, Dubya, the slumping economy, Pete Wilson or Arnold have nothing to do with the consistent failure of the Party.

[snippy]

29. Good points. What the party may need is a better media presence.

[birdman]

20. Terry should have been shown the door after the mid-term elections

Bill Clinton is the only thing propping him up.

[Loyal]

23. I think Terry is a good chairman

I support him.

[berry]

24. Remember Maynard Jackson? It was a decision between him and

McAuliffe. I wanted Jackson--the Black Caucus was the only voice truly protesting the fraud in Florida. They were the voice I wanted the Dems to embrace. But no..... It had to be shallow, gung-ho, fund-raiser McAuliffe.

Today, Pelosi started her speech with gushy praise of McAuliffe, and then had the nerve to ask people to remember Maynard Jackson. In almost the same breath. UGH. Jackson died this year (last year?) so it's too late to ask him for a rescue, but there are plenty of people who could do better than McAuliffe.

I can't put my finger on what exactly repels me about McAuliffe--besides his failures. One thing is that he seems to be looking at politics as a big game--not really believing in the dead-seriousness of it all, especially now. He's a cheerleader, but I don't see how cis-boom-bah is going to bring in voters. "12-2-1"--the numbers needed to win the house, senate and presidency. So now that's a cheer? Pointless. I also suspect McAuliffe of being on a power-trip, and loving his "insider" status too much. (This is just gut-feeling, I know nothing terrible about the guy. I just think he's someone I wouldn't much like. Not that that would matter if he was good at his job.)

[rucky]

27. Too Late in the Game...

...to ask for heads. Should've done that a year ago.

On a positive note, I thought he gave a great speech this morning. Too little, too late, but I think the party's back on track.

not sure if the 12-2-1 will catch on, but it's nice to see they're focused on winning seats again.

[donotpassgo]

28. "Don't Change Horses Mid-Stream"

wasn't that the motto from WAG THE DOG? I think its a crappy motto.

[fla nocount]

30. Then go he shall. Need money for a bus ticket?

I'm your man. This is pro bono, I want nothing back.....stinking egg sucking dog.