Dean 04: "Never let a race go uncontested" Ohio gave credence to that.

[madfloridian]

Howard Dean: "Well, I think that Newt Gingrich and Ralph Reed were very, very effective in organizing the Republicans. I think that particularly Gingrich never let a seat in Congress go uncontested, almost, and we need to start doing that. We also need to form a credible opposition party. That was one of Gingrich's great strengths. He turned the Republicans into a really feisty, tough opposition party, and then it became the majority. Democrats have gotta do that and I think we're on our way to doing it."

http://www.crocuta.net/Dean/Dean_Interview_Fox_Folbaum_June10_2004.htm

And from the DNC blog tonight:
"The First Wind of the Hurricane" a post by Josh.
http://www.democrats.org/

[dolstein]

1. I agree wholeheartedly

The Democrats need to field credible candidates in every Congressional district. No Republican incumbent should get a free pass.

But the emphasis here is on "credible." People around here act is if Hackett is somekind of left-wing fantasy. But let's not forget that the guy's a soldier and he's pro-gun. We have to be willing to to nominate non-traditional candidates, particularly in districts that tend to vote Republican.

[don954]

5. dont forget, many of us libs are pro-gun too

we jsut dont forget to read the 1st half of the 2nd admendment..

Line of defense of our liberties: first is the ballot box, then the soap box, then the jury box, and finally, failing all else, the cartridge box.

[madfloridian]

6. I have no stance at all on the gun issue.

Most people I know don't either. I live in a conservative area, and most just don't have an opinion.

I would like to see a ban on assault weapons, but other than that.....I just don't see it as an issue.

I don't necessarily agree with trying to run someone who is almost like a Republican just to win. In this case, Hackett was a good choice because of the Iraq issue.

[Old and In the Way]

8. There is no "one size fits all" Democrat.

Hopefully, we learned that with Hackett. No person will ever agree with my views 100%....but I can pretty much tell a Republican from a Democrat without a whole lot of effort.

[ulysses]

13. "somekind of left-wing fantasy"

I haven't heard that, myself. The fact that he's a soldier and pro-gun is fine in my book.

[ibegurpard]

20. You make the continual mistake of assuming

that many people aren't going to be willing to swallow some policy disagreements for the sake of someone who is forceful and willing to stand up for the "little guy."
I see constant consternation from "moderates" such as yourself as to why so many of us liberals support moderates like Dean or Byrd when they don't agree with us any a lot of policy issues. The reason is that they said "Hey, wait a minute" when confronted with corruption and cronyism of the Republicans while so many of the "liberals" went along with it.
Bottom line: Stand up against them and you'll win our respect and support.
You're arguing against two different kinds of people with the same argument... those of us who want our representatives to be principled and stand against the current corruption of the Republicans and those who want our representatives to always be advocates for "liberal" policy. We often agree on many things but that doesn't mean our motivation for support is necessarily the same.

[coloradodem2005]

2. From Dean's lips to God's ears.

I agree.

[cal04]

3. comment about Dean on Swing State project while they were

in Ohio

UPDATE (Bob) 10:03 Great night to be Howard Dean -- the 50 state strategy is gold: fight in every district, in every state, in every state and things move. People are chanting, LET'S GO PAUL

[AuntPatsy]

4. Words of wisdom from a strong soldier fighting incredible odds...

[Rainscents]

7. It looks like DNC and DCCC is the only ones who is fighting for

Democracy! Where the hell is DLC when Paul Hackett needed their help??? Oh yea, I forgot... They were too busy whoring the corporate! I am really hating DLC... They didn't NOT help with Hackett campaign at all! :banghead:

[madfloridian]

9. The DCCC did not come into the picture until he raised lots of money.

That is how they do it. Progressive groups raised the money for him mostly, then the DCCC sort of dropped in. I know DFA raised almost 100,000 for him, and had boots on the ground as well.

You are right about the DLC, they only support certain ones. They give lots of money though, so it will take us a long time to beat their big pockets.

The DNC has Susie Turnbull there, a vice chair, and some others. Dean was in Birmingham today and had other prior committments.

[madfloridian]

10. Kick

Kick

[NoPasaran]

11. This gives me a lot of hope for my district

I was gerrymandered into Lamar Smith's district in Texas. In 2004, he had no effective opposition, just a name on the ballot who ran essentially no campaign. But for 2006 we already have a good candidate with a realistic strategy and we are already building an organization. And we don't need a twenty percent swing to win, either.

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Last night's results vindicated Dean's / DNC's game plan. . .

"50-state strategy"

:kick:

[LoZoccolo]

14. That's Dean's wise plan, yes.

Too bad some of the people who say they are into him are already blaming the loss on the DLC.

[PassingFair]

17. If you are bound and determined to back the war profiteering

corporate-raiding faction of our party, then perhaps you had better develop a thicker skin.

[LoZoccolo]

19. I said nothing about being hurt by those comments.

Did I?

[Coexist]

15. kick!

[BamaLefty]

16. Get 'Em Howard!

The Dem party is in good hands with Dean at the helm. Thank God McAuliffe is gone.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

18. I'll do Howard one better...

Never let any race go uncontested. I'm serious.

If there's still time to file for the fall election in your community, look around to see if there are any incumbents running uncontested (typically on school boards and municipal positions). If the incumbent is a Republican, file papers and run against him. Even if you're nothing more than a name on the ballot -- but I hope that you do more -- it's important that there be a Democrat in every race.

Uncontested races make a mockery of our political tradition. We don't have a democracy if we don't have choices. Yesterday fourteen American Marines died in Iraq ostensibly trying to bring democracy to that part of the world. In Ohio yesterday, another Marine taught us that politics and government need honest voices even if they don't win every time.

Run for office. Change the world.