Estrich: Dean will be a different kind of Democratic chair...nice article.

[madfloridian]

She makes some good points in this article, quite fair.

http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/220810-7483-021.html

She rightly points out that Howard Dean has great ability in energizing and enthusing the grassroots fundraising.

SNIP...."Past Democratic Party chairmen have focused on raising big money from lobbyists, labor and corporate types. Republicans and Democrats generally go after the same people. In Washington, Republicans and Democrats partner in lobbying firms to make more money -- many companies and PACs routinely give to both sides, although not necessarily in the same amount.

And there is the rub for Democrats: The richer you are, the more likely you are to be a Republican. Many very, very rich people are Republicans. Business PACs vastly outnumber labor PACs, and they favor Republicans for obvious reasons: Their policies tend to be more consistent.

I really like this point she makes.

That creates two obvious problems for Democrats, not necessarily in order of importance. First, it means less money. Second, it gets in the way of policy. For Democrats, it is a lose-lose proposition...."

SNIP..."Dean will be a different kind of Democratic chair. The corporate interests will have plenty of places to contribute -- within the party, as well as the Senate and House campaign committees, which is what they really care about anyway. What Dean can do is what he began in his campaign, which is to build the base into a real machine, capable of driving turnout and producing funds. If he can put together a machine that works for the next nominee as well as the one the Republicans built worked for George Bush, he will have done his job....."END SNIP

[11cents]

1. Susan Estrich is a hideous, shrieking parody image

...of everything that's wrong with the Democratic Party and everything that's wronger with the politico-media complex. Now that Dean is head of the DNC she surfaces for a little suck-up before she plunges back into the depths of Fox where she can drunkenly badmouth Democrats for moneymoneymoney.

Peh.

[Eloriel]

5. Well, you go a little farther than I would with the Estich slamming

but I don't think your wrong, in essence. She had plenty of not very flattering things to say about him earlier.

[mitchtv]

2. Maybe there is a reason she has her job,interesting opinion.

i got some useful insights. She is not my favorite Dem, somewhat accomodationist for me.

[madfloridian]

4. Trust me, she is not one of my favorites. I just thought this was good.

I don't watch when she is a talking head, though I used to do so. You have to admit it is not a bad article.

[KissMeKate]

3. big money DOES get in the way of policy.

with small money, Democrats can vote their values.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. One thing I'm very proud of from last election season

was how the party raised more money then the republicans and it was from the people. Republicans, I believe, 90% come from huge oil corporations and then in return expect favors and all that which is just ugh. That's one of the million reasons I love being a democrat.

[Cha]

6. The thing with Dean is that

his ability to raise money from the People can translate into votes if there are some good candidates.

And we've seen him do it with the success of some of the Dean Dozens.

[Vinnie From Indy]

8. Estrich has sold her soul.

She has played her part on the sliming of Dem's over the last few years. Any Dem that makes Fox News a home is not a Liberal and deserves to be scorned.