DNC=Kweisi Mfume?

[angee_is_mad]

That thought crossed my mind when I was listening to his retirement press conference and I must say I think it would be a great selection.

[zulchzulu]

1. I think you might be right

Mfume would be a great choice.

[efhmc]

2. Embarrassed to say but do not know who that is. Please tell me.

Thanks.

[angee_is_mad]

3. Shame on you

and he was in the news this summer. He was the head of the NAACP. Remember when bush refused to meet with the NAACP during their convention this summer? Sure you do.

[mzmolly]

4. Great choice, but I'm partial to Dean.

;)

[angee_is_mad]

5. but he could go

places Dean could not and be accepted, mainly the traditional bases. Blacks just did not take to Dean as a whole, plus you have the southerners.

[goclark]

6. Huum, I believe Mfume is from Maryland

[angee_is_mad]

9. and your point?

I believe he would be more acceptable to southerners than Dean and that includes white southerners.

[goclark]

24. I really don't have a point

I had not though of Mfume with the DNC.

I have heard him speak before and he was extraordinary!

I believe he is more than capable.

Someone told me tonight that they thought he wanted to run for the Senate in two years.

[JohnKleeb]

26. maryland has a lot of southern influx in it

actually.

[Stinky The Clown]

36. "Southern influx"?

I'm not arguing here, but I don't know what you mean by that. Can you please explain a bit more what you meant?

[UpsideDownFlag]

37. most of rural maryland is somewhat, oh how do i put it....

"southernesque" - remote, rural, white. socially conservative. you know, the people that voted for Erlich.

[Stinky The Clown]

41. This is very true .......

Southern Maryland (St Mary's and to a lesser extent, Charles Counties), most of the Eastern Shore except the part right across the bridge from Annapolis (Kent Island and environs), and most of Western Maryland is very much "Old South" and quite republican. But the population centers more than offset that. This would be areas like Baltimore City and County, Montgomery County and Prince Georges County. Anne Arundel and Howard Counties are both in this area, but both tend to be pretty evenly divided, although the "republicanism" is pretty moderate, unlike the hard right in the rural areas.

All that being said, Maryland was close to 70% for Kerry this past election, and Ehrlich, I believe, is an aberration. I think O'Malley (Baltimore mayor) will beat him in '06.

[mzmolly]

7. Well the CBC was overwhelmingly in support of Dean so I don't know

that Blacks didn't take to Dean, or if that was a myth perpetuated in the white media?

If Dean didn't get the nod, I'd be glad to support Mr. Mfume, however Dean has a infrastructure in place already and it would easilly translate into a stronger democratic party.

:hi:

[angee_is_mad]

10. CBC supported Dean

or are you talking about individual members? I don't think the CBC supported any candidate during the primaries, but if they did as a group please correct me.

[mzmolly]

29. Most of the CBC membership supported Dean.

So, I think it's a myth that Dean didn't have black support.

[ecstatic]

17. I'm black, and took to Dean

Actually, I think Mfume would have a little bit more trouble due to hidden biases/racism. The right wing media machine would smear him worse than they did JJ or Sharpton.

[angee_is_mad]

18. 2 words 4 u

Ron Brown!!!!! Besides, what do the rightwingers have to do with who we select to head the DNC?
This is not a general election and I don't remember anyone asking me whether the GOP should elect Ed Gillispie to head the RNC.

[LakeCohoon]

31. I disagree

Mfume is class act. He is a perfect example of someone who was heading in the wrong direction and turned his life around and he could use that to his advantage.

JJ and Sharpton are hucksters who only play the game to benefit themselves.

Nevertheless, I do not believe Mfume would be best choice.

[Cheswick2.0]

33. I would love to see Mfume get it

Dean said if a concensus minority candidate was in the running he would not run. I think Howard is being true to what he has always said, that we need to build the base. Democrats have ignored minorities for too long. It is time to help African Americans, Hispanic and women more involved in party power.

[angee_is_mad]

35. It would be great

to have a minority in a position of power for a change. Especially since minorities(traditional base) has stuck with the party to their own detriment in some cases.
Minorities have fought for the party when the power brokers would not even stand up for themselves. Recount of 2000 comes to mind.

[Cheswick2.0]

32. What?

Dean isn't liked by the traditional bases and Blacks don't like him? You might want to explain that to Jesse Jackson Jr and the rest of the CBC.

[JI7]

8. why did he resign as head of the NAACP ?

if it was to go into retirement in order to spend time on his own and with family and friends then i'm not sure he would want to head the DNC since it would mean he would have to go back to working.

[angee_is_mad]

11. maybe he

was approached and is looking for new challenges as he said today?

[Yupster]

13. The USA Today story

said it was a surprise and it hinted that he was forced out. It quoted some guy in the leadership saying the decision was "mutually agreed upon," and also said he just sent a letter to Bush asking for a face-to-face meeting and the letter sure didn't sound like a guy about to quit.

Mfume took over the NAACP when it was in fnancial trouble and was also going through sex scandals. He leaves them in much better shape than he found them which is how every leader is judged (except for Bush I guess.)

[Stinky The Clown]

34. I do NOT think he was forced out

I think he chose to leave so he can establish an organization to make a senate run if Sarbanes retres (which I suspect he will)

[Wisc Badger]

43. Although I am from Wisconsin

From what I can tell if he does go for a MD senate seat in 06, he would win it.

[robbedvoter]

12. So far, best suggestion I've seen. Credentials, prestige, trustworthy

[lcordero]

14. He is PERFECT

I saw him on TV once. I thought that he was meaner than Eminem.

[angee_is_mad]

15. I agree

there are so many of us who feels disenfranchised and stayed with the party. This will send a big message. Plus the man is qualified and effective, what more would we want?

[UpsideDownFlag]

38. ...not to thread-hijack, but what are you two smileys in your avatar doing

??

[ecstatic]

16. Dean. Mfume wants to be with his family

We need someone who can tell it like it is.

[angee_is_mad]

19. and he wouldn't?

and I wonder why bush was afraid to attend the NAACP convention this summer? Do you have any ideas? He attended the Urban League but not the NAACP. Things that make you say ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm????

[DaveinMD]

20. Mfume

is getting ready to run for the Senate in Maryland in case Sarbanes retires.

[angee_is_mad]

21. oh really?

well, if I can't have as the head of the DNC, I will definitely have him in the senate.
When is the retirement party? The senator of course.

[DaveinMD]

22. Sarbanes is up in 2006

he may or may not run. He's been a great Senator. Their are a bunch of great Dems who may run.

[Yupster]

25. Alan Keyes is thinking

damn and here I am in Illinois.

[JohnKleeb]

27. I tried getting a job with him

but he's partial to Maryland students, hes a great guy, I saw him when I was in the senate building a few weeks back, I am surprised he never ran for president. :shrug: I like Maryland, great state.

[DaveinMD]

30. He's not presidential material

He's a great guy, but he has the charisma of a door nail.

[Stinky The Clown]

23. This has been discussed already in a number of threads .. good idea!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2769423

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1032117

I think there are more, too.

He would be a great choice for DNC Chair.

As for the senate thing, he said on the local (Baltimore) news he would consider a run for senate *if* Sarbanes (who will be 71 in '06) decides not to run.

[JohnKleeb]

28. You know somethin you got a good idea

but I do think he would make a good candidiate to replace Sarbanes if he retires.

[xerox]

39. Nope

[Logansquare]

40. He's be a great DNC head, but I think it's just a dream

The "moderates" at the DNC have to be dragged into the 21st century kicking and screaming.

[Stinky The Clown]

42. As much as I don't want to think like that, you're probably right.

And of course there's the small issue of how *he* feels about it! Who says he even wants it?

While I would love to see him take it, I suspect he is more focused on Sarbanes' seat if Paul decides to retire in '06. Then there's also the long shot of Baltimore mayor. If O'Malley (current Baltimore mayor) runs against Ehrlich (for which I believe there to be a 99.9% chance) I could see Kwaesi running for that. He used to be on the city council till he ran for (and won) a seat in Congress.

Anyway .... its all very much up in the air and pure speculation. The man has many options and he's be a winner (for him and for us) no matter which he chose.

But all are nice thoughts .......... yanno?