Why is Dean being attacked by Republicans and Democrats?

[Don1]

He said that the Republican Party is "not very friendly to different kinds of people." Guess what? Since the Republicans and the establishment Democrats are pretending that they have collective amnesia, I'll spell it out for them. The Republican establishment already admitted that they are the party of grumpy people who do not reach out. Just like the Alamo, I'll have to tell you...REMEMBER THE EXIT POLL DISCREPANCIES. To explain away the discrepancies, the apologist polling corporation said that Republicans were less likely to approach and answer the people doing the exit polling. I kid you not. It is right here:
"Our investigation of the differences between the exit poll estimates and the actual vote count point to one primary reason: in a number of precincts a higher than average Within Precinct Error most likely due to Kerry voters participating in the exit polls at a higher rate than Bush voters..."
http://www.exit-poll.net/election-night/EvaluationJan192005.pdf

As far as establishment Democrats falling in line with the Republicans attacking Dean, one might think that the problem is that these Dems have no spine. I mean, they let Ann Coulter get away with saying some pretty heinous things, like that the US should kill all the Islamic countries' leaders and convert the countries to Christianity. And she has joked around about bombing the editors at New York Times because they are allegedly liberals. One would think that the Democratic establishment could be using their time more wisely like by going after some of these right-wing bigots instead of Dean.

And now I have to wonder at why they are suddenly doing this. They are essentially making an issue out of nothing. It is like the Dean scream. Why are they doing this? And I say this in an unbiased way. Some Deaniacs out there may recall that I have been critical of Dean in recent times, for example. In any case, I think the answer to the question is here:
"In the process of raising money, Dean has paid scant attention to the big Democratic donors. New York finance director Bridget Siegel resigned from her post last week while Lori Kreloff, finance director for the state of California, exited the DNC late last month.

The largest blow to Dean's DNC came when the director of grassroots fundraising, Nancy Eiring, resigned, citing strategic differences with Dean aides, reported ABC News. Dean has indeed done a fine job of corralling his progressive activists who latched on early to his presidential campaign. But critics of Dean's short tenure at the DNC note that he has yet to adequately reach out to the Democrat's corporate block."
http://www.counterpunch.org/frank06072005.html

How do you feel about this? Is Dean being attacked by the establishment for not giving the corporate donors their private dinners and not accepting their big donations?

[Triana]

1. SO - it's because Dean doesn't kiss a**

..is that it?

[Don1]

4. I speculate that it is bigger.

What if the establishment is afraid of grassroots democracy? The corporate donors are what holds them up and ultimately the establishment gives the corporate elite their due when voting.

Dean might be very threatening to their way of life...and now he is even talking about instant run-off voting. I bet he is scaring the pants off of them.

[Eloriel]

9. DING DING DING!!

That's why they couldn't let him win the primary too.

[Eloriel]

10. DING DING DING!!

That's why they couldn't let him win the primary too.

Welcome to DU! :toast:

[BrklynLiberal]

11. I agree with you 100% both times you said it!!!!

That is why Rove and Grover Norquist invested more time and money in defeating Howard Dean in the DEMOCRATIC primaries than they did in defeating any other Democrat! They knew that Dean could beat Bush, and that the Corporatists would have no sway over him.

[Triana]

29. There you go...

...that's IT. That grassroots democracy is what propelled him to the forefront as a candidate. Now he's chair of the DNC. Oh my...something might change!

[bklyncowgirl]

33. You got it!

If Dean succeeds with his grass roots strategy America, for the first time in many years, gets a major political party that puts the good of the country and the majority of the people above the profits of the corporations.

A grass root funded party doesn't have to done down its populist rhetoric in order to get those big contributions rolling in and can propose solutions and programs that ordinary Americans would support whole-heartedly.

[Stockholm]

35. I bet the corporate donors are looking

where the grassroots money flows to. The 10.01 donation scheme is pretty clever.

[mandyky]

6. Especially corporate a$$

Dean truly is trying to build a party that stands for the people.

[Don1]

8. Maybe.

I am going to wait and see what happens.

[havocmom]

2. Nobody owns his ass

And that makes him a very dangerous man to the power elite.

It is also why we support him. He stands with and for the real America.

[kaitykaity]

3. So it looks like Dean is doing what Nader said he was

going to do but didn't -- create a party from the
grassroots up to challenge corporate influence in
American politics.

Hm. Who knew?

Go Howard!! Go Howard!! Go Howard!!

[Don1]

5. If he gets forced out of the party,

he'll likely join forces with Nader. No?

[mandyky]

12. Firstly, he won't get forced out

Secondly, if Dean was gonna leave the party he'd have left after the primaries and all the dirty tricks the establishment Dems pulled.

As long as Dean is making the state chairs happy, I don't see him being forced out.

[Don1]

15. Good points.

Like I said in response to someone else, I am going to wait and watch. I am also going to hope that he stays true. Also like I said in the op, I have been critical in the past of Dean. I will change my mind and throw my support his way, if he sticks to his principles on this important issue.

[kaitykaity]

13. What's Nader doing exactly? Hiding in his cave

waiting for the Republicans to feed him more money
for another Democrat-vote robbing campaign?

Yeah, yeah, I saw him on CSPAN the other day.
Big whoop.

[mermaid]

16. FUCK NADER!!!

I'll never forgive Nader.

That fuckhead is the entire reason WHY Bush won in 2000. And why we still groan under the corporate yoke in 2005.

FUCK YOU, RALPH NADER!!

[Don1]

17. Let's not

turn this into a Nader bashing thread. There is another more positive purpose here, no?

[mermaid]

19. Someone Else Brought Up Darth Nader

I just added my own two cents.

[Don1]

20. I know. n/t

[kaitykaity]

21. Sorry, that was not my intent bringing up Saint Ralph.

However, it is ironic that Howard Dean is now making
the Democratic Party different than the Republicans,
something Ralph talked and talked and talked about, but
strangely enough did little or nothing to accomplish.

That point is worthy of note I think.

[Don1]

23. It is but...

(1) I am taking a wait-and-see attitude.
(2) Dean is an insider and Nader is an outsider. The strategies are different and may have inherent limits.

[kaitykaity]

24. Insider how? Certainly not "inside" the Beltway.

You don't want Nader bashing, don't assert that
Nader had a strategy. Hader had nothing but a mouth
and Republican money.

[Don1]

25. I gotta get some sleep.

Good night. No more Nader talk for me.

I'll check what kinds of interesting answers there are to the questions in the morning.

[quaker bill]

34. No.

However, my dollar would be on him running in 2008 as a true outsider. Since that is about the very last thing the DLC wants, Dean will keep his job.

[mermaid]

14. Hmmmm....Who Knew???

Those of us who supported Dean from jump street...WE KNEW.

But y'all had to reject Dean at the primaries, didn't ya?

I ended up casting a ballot for Edwards (my second choice) in the primaries, because Dean had already dropped out by the time the Texas Primaries opened (I was a resident of Texas then...and Texas allowed early voting)

The day after I cast the Edwards ballot, Edwards dropped, givng the whole shebang to Kerry. That was even before the official Texas Primary...but early voting had already happened in Texas.

Kerry was about my last choice. I didn't want him, didn't think he could beat Bush...but that Dean COULD.

Dean stood up and said the things I felt in my head, my heart, my soul! And still he does. And I salute him for it.

In the end, I voted Kerry/Edwards in the Preisdential Election, because at least Edwards was the number two guy...and I could at least vote FOR Edwards...and not just vote AGAINST Bush.

But, damn, I started out in the Edwards camp, when it didn't look like Dean had a shot in hell...but I loved Dean, anyway. Then, Dean looked to be the sure winner, and I jumped horses, openly supporting Dean.

Then Dean lost, and I went back to the Edwards camp and stayed there.

I'm SO GLAD Dean is now chair of the DNC. fuckin Terry McAuliffe never did shit for us, and wouldn't say the things that NEEDED to be said, like Dean does!

Screw the "corporate block." We don't need their fucking asses. THEY need us wage slaves more than we need the fucking corporations. corporations always get their fucking way, anyway...'bout goddamn TIME someone listened to THE PEOPLE...and cared more about THE PEOPLE...like Dean does.

But the power elite are scared of Dean, because Dean is inciting the grassroots folks like me that are gonna finally rise up like a tsunami to sweep all these corrupt corporate assholes the fuck out of Washington for good, and never again may they usurp our fucking electoral process!

Down with evil corporations who do nothing but suck the life out of workers, and the resoucres out of the earth to spew out garbage, and give nothing back!! Fuck 'em, they need to go down...and they need to go down HARD!!

Time for the Democratic Party to remember that they are supposed to be the Party OF THE PEOPLE. Dean remembers. And I love hiim for it.

Go Howard!! Go Howard!! Go Howard!! Go Howard!! Go Howard!!

[kaitykaity]

18. Yeah, I knew too.

I knew as soon as Howard made up his mind that he
wanted this DNC job. He went after it like he knew
what the hell he was doing.

I'm angry at Kerry though for his cowardly, premature
concession and so now have very little use for him.
I admired Teresa though, and thought if a woman of her
substance could be married to him, there must be something
there I couldn't see.

Now if I never see John Kerry's face again I can die
happy.

Great rant, Mermaid.

[janx]

22. That is why (greatly misunderstood) he echoed Wellstone--

as running as the DEMOCRATIC wing of the DEMOCRATIC party.

That is why he said it and what he meant. And it's what he's doing now.

[Upfront]

44. Me Too.

Howard is kicking ass and I love it. I was with him all the way and I still am. I hope they kick him out and he then runs for President. Screw the Democratic party!

[Don1]

45. They lack the authority to kick him out.

So, they'll have to get some dirt on him first. Maybe set him up for something...you know the drill, throw an intern his way or have some obscure terrorist group donate to him personally without him being aware...

But yeah, it would actually be nice if he did leave the party (if it cannot be reformed from the inside).

Which independent would you like to be his running mate?

[Southsideirish]

7. Because they are both afraid of him and what he will do if his popularity

grows with his national exposure. He has tremendous charisma and that has them wetting their drawers.

[DeanIsOne]

26. Sign the Howard Dean Speaks for Me Petition!

:kick:

It's only been up for a few days now, & the #'s are increasing by the minute ...

http://www.petitiononline.com/Dean/petition.html

[Don1]

38. I will not do this

just yet. I do not agree with Dean on a lot of his policy. At the same time, if he continues to fight the corporate elite over say the next month, then I'll consider donating on his behalf or possibly signing a petition.

[ngGale]

27. Yep, Dean is not playing with the corporate...

ho's and I hope remains true to his base. You and I, the collective WE - all of us will benefit.

[johnnyrocket]

28. $100,000 was received, unsolicited, from online donors during a 24-hour

...in the past week as the furor over his remarks grew. ( Quote from a CNN article )

EXCELLENT!!! I want to see Dean forge ahead, I want to see how fully he weathers the GOP slime machine. Then, if he attacks the GOP even more, HE'S THE MAN FOR THE JOB!!!!!

[lojasmo]

30. Typo...you meant "democrats" Right? (note the quotes) EOM

[fshlr]

31. Why do Dems betray Dean

Dean isn't exactly my cup of tea, but right now he's the best we've got. I have to wonder what Harry Truman would say when our Congressional leadership runs away from the one guy willing to tell the truth to power. I think Jerry Brown was right: there is only one national political party, the Incumbency.

[Don1]

39. My own personal view

is that generally the parties are somewhat close and not exactly the same. The Dems average out to be centrist economically and just as imperialist as far as foreign policy. The Repubs are an odd mixture economically. There are fiscal conservatives, but then there are also the neo-cons who want to borrow beyond belief for their defense contractor cronies...and to be fair, some Democrats want that, too, like Lieberman.

There are elements within each party, too, which are very different. The Progressive Caucus in the Democratic Party is like a lite version of the Green Party. The Neo-conservative elements in the Republican Party are diametrically opposed to the progressive movement.

But Brown's point about incumbency is fair nonetheless. Almost all of these guys are protecting their cashflow.

[Don1]

41. I never understood the whole big D

versus small d thing. I get it now.

[JNelson6563]

32. As far as I am concerned

he's only being attacked by Rethugs. ;-)

Julie

[OneTwentyoNine]

36. Republicans=DSM Democrats=Milque toast pussys

Dems....Well if we treat the Republican with dignity and respect they won't trash us for the next 10 years like they did when Clinton was in office.

YEAH RIGHT.........

[CTLawGuy]

37. hmm

"But critics of Dean's short tenure at the DNC note that he has yet to adequately reach out to the Democrat's corporate block."

Ya hear that Kucinichites? You think Dean's a corporate Democrat now? And it's from Counterpunch too.

[Don1]

40. You should read the whole article

Very cynical. A big-time critic of Dean, Joshua Frank, is pessimistic and says that Dean will give in to the corporate powers.

I am of the 'left persuasion' but see no reason to bash Dean over this. It's a good quality and his resusal to give in to the establishment and his suggestion of instant run-off voting would both be good for democracy. I am just watching and crossing my fingers.

And I hope that you big Dean fans will replace those fundraisers who left him with some honest people like yourselves.

[Cha]

42. Because to me they

are chicken-livered dems..and I've had enough of them over the last 5 years.

And we know why the repubs are..they scared shitless.

cheney is resorting to "yo mama" jokes.

[Don1]

43. What are you doing about having

"had enough of them over the last 5 years?"

Are you voting Green or are you voting for a select few Dems?

Something else?

[PATRICK]

46. The concerted effort to "get Dean"

was not influenced by what he said but by orchestrated opportunity. The "Republicans" is simply their noise machine and the leadership he specifically is attacking. Of course. the "Democrats"e really only SOME of the DLC types, a very few of the elected reps and that taken out of context to to build this MEME of "upswell".

BS. Double BS and triple.

Dump that byline completely. "Dean thrives in recent attempt to scapegoat his blunt message." "Dems back Dean". "Dean's challenge to the GOP evaded- so far." The Dem elected reps and the activists back him except for the panicky gun-shy defeatists who react on cue to MSM tsk tsking. Most of America outside of the lace panty in a knot rageaholic crowd could care less. Are those votes worth grovelling for? They only kick you when you're on your knees.

[Zen Democrat]

47. The only hope we have is a grass roots candidate with people support

who is outside the bosom of the corporate interests that control most of our elected officials -- Democrat or Republican.

That's why I'm supporting Kinky Friedman for Texas governor next year. And we need a presidential candidate in 2008 who is outside that framework, who can attract voters from all parties who realize that the fix has been in for a long time. If the Democrats can't nominate someone in 2008 who is not connected to the machine, then support a grassroots independent candidate. We have to take back our government from the corporations that bought it.