What will be Howard Dean's first test? 2006?

[Placebo]

Are we expecting him to turn things around for the party that quickly? I mean, if we have a net loss of congressional and state democratic seats, does that mean he "failed" his first test, and inversely, if we pick up seats in '06 does that mean he "passed"?

[KurtNYC]

1. I have to think that fundraising and opposing the ripoff of

Social Security will be the first tests.

Anecdotely I heard that the DNC fundraising was drying up in the last days of McAuliffe. MoveOn and DFA are already running. There is hope.

[MaineDem]

2. NJ and VA Governors' races are this year

I think that'll be the first test.

The first public test. His first actual test will be to see if he comes through on the promises he's made to each state party. I expect we'll see something on that within the next week!

[LSparkle]

3. Defending Harry Reid

and making sure he doesn't get "Daschle-ized." We need an attack dog to counterpunch the RNC for their planned smear of Reid, and Dean is a perfect candidate to do it.

[theboss]

4. 2006 to me is a midterm exam

Dean should really try to do well, but it's more to see how he is progressing. Since I have no hope for 2006 anyway, he can't help but pass.

[Sean Reynolds]

5. I think it's a lot like rebuilding a college football program.

I look at the DNC as say, USC. For a very long time they were dominate in college football. Then they trailed off and really became an average program. They changed coaching staffs and rebuilt the foundation for the program. The success didn't happen over night, but a few years later and they're national champs.

I'm not expecting a full turn around in 2006, however I'd like to see modest gains. 2008 will the the true test of Dean's leadership, as it is with a college football coach in say, year three of his contract.

If things aren't progressing by then, we're in trouble.

[ArtVandaley]

6. A loss in seats would be a loss for the Dean and the Dems, big time

Bush is going to fuck up a lot in the next two years, and while saying we're going to retake both houses by wide margins may be unrealistic, if we can't at least close the gap or at the very least maintain the status quo then we're in BIG trouble.

[Debi]

7. The first test will be

$$$$$ and unity.

before any races are run!

[NYCGirl]

8. Interestingly, on the McLaughlin Group this weekend,

McLaughlin, the big kahuna Republican himself, predicted the Democrats would retake the House in 2006. I suspect he's right.

http://www.mclaughlin.com/library/transcript.asp?id=452

MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Predictions. Pat.

MR. BUCHANAN: I believe Mr. Allawi will be out as prime minister within a matter of weeks.

MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Wow. Eleanor.

MS. CLIFT: The more Americans learn about the details of Bush's Social Security plan, the more dubious they will become.

MR. MCLAUGHLIN: You've got two seconds.

MR. BLANKLEY: The House will pass Social Security by July 4th.

MR. PAGE: The Bush anti-gang initiative won't be any more successful than Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" drugs initiative.

MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Republicans now hold the House of Representatives. In the 2006 elections next year, the House will be seized by the Democrats.

[Placebo]

9. That would be great news!

A Democratic House would be splendid news.

[NYCGirl]

10. Sure would!

:thumbsup: