Excellent interview, Governor Dean.

[madfloridian]

On with Wolf Blitzer on CNN.

I liked the way he made it clear that Harold Ickes was wrong, that the DNC legally had to do its own database. He grinned at the mention of Ickes, said he was a friend but that they disagreed on this. He said Ickes' databases might benefit his own purposes. He mentioned that the DNC database was going to be effective at local levels as well. I think that was a fault in 04, that there were some flaws locally.

He said if we are relentless with our message we can take back the House and Senate. Referred to the local infrastructure several times as being so very vital.

He talked about the vote coming up next week on raising the debt ceiling again. He said he thought the Democrats would vote no. Hope he is right, but I sure have my doubts. I think he was sending a message with that statement.

[wisteria]

1. I agree, he did an excellent job today. n/t

[Armstead]

2. "We have to get the country back to basics"

I liked that phrase and concept on many levels.

[madfloridian]

3. Transcript: back to basics.

"BLITZER: I've spoken to a lot of Democrats, and you speak to a lot more than I do. They are really sensing that they could win in this November, given all the problems the Republicans have had, the president, the White House, Katrina, Iraq, Scooter Libby, the vice president's former chief of staff, the vice president shooting his friend in the face in that hunting accident, the warrantless wiretaps, the Dubai ports deal.

So much negative stuff for the Republicans. If the Democrats don't take advantage of this, as one person said to me, there's going to be all hell to pay.

DEAN: Well, first of all, I'd prefer not to look at it as taking advantage of Republican weaknesses. After all, what's really at stake here is the future of the country. This country's become much weaker under President Bush, not just security and the outsourcing of our ports operations and all that, but the deficits. We're about to vote next week on a new debt ceiling. I think the Democrats are going to vote no. And thank God. Somebody has to be fiscally responsible in this country.

And the Republicans have lost the mantle of fiscal responsibility. Democrats are the only party in the last 40 years who have run a surplus under Bill Clinton. We've got to return us to the basics, return this country to the basics, where we're focused. You know, the president talks about homeland security. Well, homeland security means hometown security. And the Republicans have forgotten about ordinary people in the streets of America."

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/12/le.01.html

Well, will the Democrats vote no on raising the debt ceiling again? Stay tuned.

[faithnotgreed]

4. thanks mad - i enjoyed reading that excerpt

and i appreciated that dr dean said this shouldnt be about taking advantage of republican weakness. its the future of the country

that drives home the fallout, the consequences and not just a repub v dem thing which waters down the true horror of whats going on and whats at stake