The Note: Despite Rhetoric Dean relies on "Washington Insiders"

[DJcairo]

Roll Call 's Chris Cillizza reports that despite bashing his opponents as "Washington insiders," Howard Dean is "relying on a group of seasoned lobbyists and other Washington political operatives to help guide his own inside-the-Beltway efforts."

Roll Call 's Chris Cillizza reports that despite bashing his opponents as "Washington insiders," Howard Dean is "relying on a group of seasoned lobbyists and other Washington political operatives to help guide his own inside-the-Beltway efforts."
"The group, which meets every two to three weeks, was organized by former Clinton administration official Maria Echaveste and Nikki Heidepriem, a former staffer to Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.). It includes roughly 25 people who assemble in an informal gathering of Capitol Hill staffers, lobbyists, lawyers, and employees of nonprofit and advocacy organizations."

"Among those who regularly attend the meetings are former Rep. Toby Moffett (D-Conn.), now a lobbyist affiliated with the Livingston Group; former" DNC vice chair "Lynn Cutler of Holland & Knight; and Christine Varney, a Hogan & Hartsen attorney who served as the general counsel on the first Clinton presidential bid and as a Federal Trade Commissioner from 1995 to 1997."

"Terry Lierman, a former Hill staffer, lobbyist and House candidate who now serves as Dean's national finance co-chair, is also a regular participant."

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/TheNote/TheNote.html

[wrkclskid]

1. Well Yeah

Campaigning against Washington is fine, but you also have to be willing to work with Washington or you will get nothing done when you get their. Both Carter and Reagan ran against Washington, but after getting their Carter refused to play even a little bit of the Washington game and thus could hardly get anything accomplished. Reagan also ran agisnt Washington but when he was elected embraced the Washingotn scene and found Congress a lot easier to work with.

[MrPeepers]

2. Gosh,

Dean would really do something like that? Say one thing... and then... do something else? Great scott!

Peepers

[w4rma]

12. I haven't seen any other Dems attacked like this by the DLC insiders

Dean Statement in Response to DLC's Charge that Public Servants are "Fringe Activists"

“Once again, the DLC has chosen to put their own political agenda ahead of the progress needed to unite the Democratic Party. This election has barely begun, and the DLC has repeatedly dismissed people who attend caucuses, who get out the vote, and now the 1.3 million members of AFSCME as ‘fringe activists’ who do not reflect ‘the mainstream values, national pride and the economic aspirations of middle-class and working people.’

“The DLC staff can say what they want about me, but they owe an apology to the 1.3 million members of AFSCME. Our teachers, our health care workers, and our state and local public servants don't need a lesson from Washington insiders about the needs and concerns of middle- and working-class families. What they need is a Democratic Party that will stand up for them.”

Posted by Mathew Gross at 04:27 PM
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000206.html

Tell From and Reed of the DLC What You Think
Click here to sign a letter to the Democratic Leadership Council telling them that you're an active Democrat who supports Howard Dean. You can tell your friends about the link, too: www.deanforamerica.com/DLC

Posted by Mathew Gross at 01:29 AM
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000240.html

Fineman on the DLC Memo
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000213.html

Former DNC-Chief Steve Grossman to DLC: "Creating Conflict is Not Leadership."
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000225.html

Liberal Oasis on Howard Dean and the DLC
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000226.html

Will the Real DLC Please Stand Up?
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000228.html

Congressional Members Call on DLC to Stop Divisive Tactics
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000238.html

Activists Are Out of Step
By Al From and Bruce Reed
http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=251866&kaid=85&subid=65

The Real Soul of the Democratic Party
By Al From and Bruce Reed
http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=251690&kaid=127&subid=900056

[blm]

14. I never saw longtime lefty Dems bashed as "Bushlite" either.

I never saw someone as far to the right as Zell Miller and just as scornful of liberals, claim he represented "the Democratic wing of the Democratic party."

[wtmusic]

16. Thanks for the links--this is a coordinated campaign

to smear Dean because idiots like Al From see him as a threat to their power (rightfully so). It will backfire.

[DJcairo]

27. You will backfire into oblivion

Come on. It's just a quote from The Note. Are you suggesting they are in Al From's pocket. Do you really think Al From is behind Dean saying he would attack and in the very next sentence attacking. Please.

[buckfush2]

3. yeah , so?

who's he supposed to use for advisors? the greeter at wal-mart and barney the dinosaur?

sheesh some people will do anything to attack a candidate...

[vi5]

8. Then here's an idea.....

Nobody is saying he can't use washington insiders for his campaign. But then when you make a point of playing up your outsider status and attacking your opponents for being washington insiders....well then that's a little bit disingenuous, especially for such a straight talking truth teller.

[MrPeepers]

10. People like...

hmmmmmm... Howard Dean?

Peepers

[Skwmom]

11. But he bashed Clark as being a "Washington Insider" because he

was being advised by Washington Insiders. Dean again talks out of both sides of his mouth. So what's new.

[wtmusic]

18. Clark is a Washington insider

Clark, 2001: "I'm very glad we've got the great team in office, men like Colin Powell, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice... people I know very well - our president George W. Bush. We need them there."

The only reason this man is running for the Democratic nomination is the Republican one wasn't available.

[eileen_d]

19. Thank you for purchasing the GOP talking points!

Please tell your friends.

[wtmusic]

20. GOP talking points?

This man is running to defeat their candidate.

George Bush = Republican

Wesley Clark = Aspiring Democrat

You're welcome.

[eileen_d]

21. I was referring to this -

"The only reason this man is running for the Democratic nomination is the Republican one wasn't available."

That's simply not true, and it does appear to be a rumor with a GOP source:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2003_09_21.html#002021

[wtmusic]

22. You can say it's 'simply not true'

but you can't explain that quote, can you?

[eileen_d]

24. You mean the 2001 quote?

The one in your sig - do you kiss it before you go to bed at night?

Seems to me that the quote is not definitive evidence of complete collusion and agreement with the Bush administration. Seems to me it may have been a retired general being courteous to the Bush administration in public. Seems to me I don't really give a shit about a single quote out of context from 2001.

I prefer not to base my judgement of a candidate on a single quote. It sure would be fun to do that with Dean, but I like Dean too so I won't do that.

[wtmusic]

25. I do kiss it, and fondle it gently

That quote says loads about Clark's commitments. Is he going to further Democratic ideals? Will he not have obligations to power players in the military procurement process? Does he stick to his guns or say things to please people? Does a context exist which would make his words ring different?

Too many questions. To say Clark is not a Washington insider is ignoring this admission and many others like it.

[eileen_d]

26. LOL

Well, I wouldn't want to deny you the simple pleasures of life... so carry on.

[eileen_d]

4. And hence the downside of the "insider/outsider" strategy...

I've posted a couple things today about my view of the "pros" of this strategy: it attracts voters' interests, and potentially actual votes.

Articles like this fall demonstrate the "cons" - no one running for political office can truly claim to be an outsider without being called on it.

[Cha]

5. ANd, what's your point?

[blm]

6. TOBY MOFFETT???? I thought he turned into a BFEE shill?

Isn't he a highrolling lobbyist, now?

[blm]

28. TOBY MOFFETT, former Monsanto VP - making money on Iraq

He works FOR Bob Livingston (R-pervert)...remember him?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A30907-2003Oct1?language=printer

Lobbyists Set Sights On Money-Making Opportunities in Iraq

By Thomas B. Edsall and Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 2, 2003; Page A21


Some of Washington's top Republican lobbyists are counting on ties to the Bush administration, the congressional leadership and the Iraqi provisional government to turn the embattled country into a major new profit center.

"It's like a huge pot of honey that's attracting a lot of flies," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

The opportunities -- and risks -- of doing business in Iraq are far more varied than in traditional Washington lobbying. One alliance of Republican lobbyists, New Bridge Strategies, whose interest in Iraq has earned considerable attention because of its close ties to the Bush administration, is gearing up to seek distribution rights for major U.S. companies producing everything from grain to auto parts to shampoo.

"Getting the rights to distribute Procter & Gamble products would be a gold mine," said one of the partners at New Bridge who did not want to be named. "One well-stocked 7-Eleven could knock out 30 Iraqi stores; a Wal-Mart could take over the country," he said.

This same group, which includes Joe M. Allbaugh, President Bush's 2000 campaign manager, and Ed Rogers and Lanny Griffith, two top political aides to Bush's father, have also set up a security company, Diligence-Iraq, which has hired former members of the U.S. Special Forces, New Zealand's equivalent of the Green Berets and the Iraqi military to provide protection for companies and for corporate leaders visiting the country. In a matter of months, Diligence-Iraq has begun to turn a profit, said chief executive Michael Miller, who for 14 years was a "covert field operations officer for the CIA, specializing in counterterrorism, counternarcotics and counterinsurgency operations," according to the company.

>>>>>>
Another lobbying firm run by former House Appropriations Committee chairman Bob Livingston (R-La.) is representing well-placed Iraqi families seeking to form business alliances with U.S. and foreign companies interested in setting up operations in the country, and the firm is exploring working with a Jordanian pharmaceutical firm and an Iraqi business family to produce antibiotics for Iraq.

The Livingston Group is also working on behalf of De La Rue, a British printing and paper company that has won a contract to print some of Iraq's currency, and is now seeking to produce secure travel documents for the fledgling government. Anthony J. "Toby" Moffett Jr., a former Democratic representative from Connecticut who works with Livingston, said his firm's first task was to "make sure the people in decision-making positions knew the severity of the problem as regards to security documentation. We had to try to convince the U.S. government they need to fix this issue sooner rather than later."

The Coalition Provisional Authority initially approached De La Rue about submitting a proposal for half a million secure interim travel documents, but then informed Moffett and others that the U.S. Government Printing Office would print 10,000 documents. Moffett said the Livingston Group is "making the case on the Hill and elsewhere about moving more rapidly toward a private contractor that really knows what it's doing," appealing to Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.), chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on the Commerce, Justice and State departments, and to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "We're trying to get the right people to ask the right questions of the right people."
>>>>>>>>

[Rose Siding]

7. Including nonprofits and advocacy organizations?

Well!

[dkf]

9. Of course he needs advisors who are insiders.

But he himself is an outsider and he is such an independent thinker that it will not be business as usual if he is in charge.

The character trait that is the most attractive to me is that he does not suffer fools gladly. My favorite quote from him is "that is inexcusable" as he pointed at the Yale quarterback who significantly overthrew his receiver. This trait will serve him well as he tries to bring Washington back from la la land to the real world where the insiders are creating a big fat fiscal disaster.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. Some would say Dean is in la la land himself

just to be fair here.

[wtmusic]

17. Saying it is one thing

but not very fair if it's not supported, no?

[blm]

29. As gov. of Vermont it was the progressive Dems he considered fools

as he often aligned with the Republicans AGAINST them.

Link broken, but the article is wellknown.


>>>>>>
Dean kept his distance from his party's liberals during his governorship.

''He seemed to take glee in attacking us at every opportunity and using us as a way to form alliances with more conservative elements,'' said former state Sen. Cheryl Rivers, a leader of the state Democrats' liberal wing and former chairwoman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

. . .

Dean trimmed spending or held down increases in areas held dear by the liberals. More than once, Dean went to battle over whether individual welfare benefits should rise under automatic cost of living adjustments. Liberals were particularly incensed when he tried that tactic on a program serving the blind, disabled and elderly, which he did several times.

. . .

Rivers blames Dean for helping a third political party to flourish in Vermont that many say siphons votes from Democrats. ''The Progressive Party gained some momentum during his years as governor because he was so conservative,'' Rivers said, although she said she still may support Dean for president.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/139/region/Those_who_know_Dean_says_he_s_:.shtml

[Rose Siding]

33. But she may still support him anyway?

He was SO awful, she may just have to support him.

I'd like to see the rest of that article.

[RetroLounge]

15. Yawn

The Dean bashing get more desperate...

:boring:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

23. "The Note" cracks me up

In candidate rhetoric and campaign e-mail, the gloves are SO off on the donkey side, with Dr. Dean's particular brand of "I'm not going to attack my opponents like they are attacking me, at least not in this sentence, but get ready for a shift in the next sentence" getting the "hypocrisy" label from some rivals.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/TheNote/TheNote.html

:o

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

30. And what is he now?

Snubbed again by the state party faithful, Kerry nevertheless turned defeat into an asset, painting himself as the "outsider" to Shannon the "insider."http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061903.shtml


Ah, but I suppose that Kerry's reasons are valid and Dean's are evil. Kerry also relied on "Washington insiders" in that race. Not that I expected a fair and unfettered view from you.

[blm]

31. Gee...maybe Dean shouldn't act so much holier than thou

when his record points otherwise. Kerry gets the fingers pointed at him constantly (usually from Dean) - Dean is just beginning to see the fingers in his face.

[LuminousX]

32. Nah, he's always seen the fingers in his face

"He's too liberal."
"He's too conservative."
"He's satan."

It don't matter. Keep flinging the muck at him. Keep shining the light on him. Keep digging up 'double standards.' Maybe enough people will be turned off they'll vote for someone else instead... or maybe just not vote at all.

[blm]

34. I understand perfectly.

Dean is allowed to bash with impunity, so are his supporters, everyone else must toe Dean's line. Gotcha.