The Dean Movement as a long-term proposition

[fabius]

Ok, now that Dean people are coming to the conclusion that our candidate may not be inevitable, we must admit that, regardless of the outcome, this movement has just begun.

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall said "Reformers are all morning glories". Old-fashioned machine politics or the modern more toxic version of corporate-owned government were (are) driven by money and power. Reformers are driven by altruism, which in Plunkitt's argument, are a more short-lived force than money and power.

To effect real change in this country we need to prove this isn't true.

The progressives and reformers have three challenges: The retaking of the Democratic Party from its free-trade, corporate arm (or at least a balance of power with it to promote a real discourse); the undoing of the years of Reaganite-Bushite damage to the country; and the development of a new politics of fundamental change to head off human extinction. This will require a large base of dedicated activists that is energetic, organized, savvy, and committed for the long-term. The first three elements exist within the Dean campaign (and others as well). The long-term committment is the part that we must look at now.

For my part, I freely admit I went from being an activist and Party regular in 1981-84 to being just a voter, until recently. For many of us Bush was just the last straw, but even in the Clinton years we still had an accumulation of bad news for the progressive agenda.

Will Pitt has posted recently about the meaning of the Kucinich campaign. In this campaign season we have had more progressive voices heard on the national stage than at any time since 1988 at least. The presence of the true liberals Kucinich, Braun and Sharpton, and the populist Dean, have pulled the more traditional candidates to the left and stiffened their resolve. This is greatly to the benefit of the Democratic Party. Having put the progressive cause back on the table, we must keep it there.

Obviously one thing we must do is work with the Democratic nominee to elect a Democratic President this fall. (No, I am totally against a third-party run by Dean and I don't believe he would do it).

In the long-term we need a majority in Congress. We may just luck out and get it this year but don't count on it. We must look toward 2010, the next redistricting. We must really look at taking State legislatures before 2010. And gubernatorial seats. Heck, if we get 'em why wait until 2010? - just do a Texas on them. You see what I mean.

The progressive Democrats must be well-financed and well-organized. We must reach out to and promote the real concerns of Blacks and Hispanics, and should adopt a "Green" platform (as will be necessary for human survival). I think we can find common ground with Libertarians on civil liberties issues.

But it must be a long-term effort. A committment by members to give regularly both to the DNC and to the "progressive" wing would give a firm funding base and leverage with the party leadership.

What form should this movement / organization take? Any other ideas? Most of the Dean supporters I know locally (This is in Portland OR) seem to be committed to long-term political involvement. Let's make it effective!

Let's not be "morning glories". Let's prove Plunkitt wrong.

Let's take this country back, not just for four or eight years but for future generations.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I have the feeling that Dean's effects in US History

and his legacy, will be long lasting.

I cannot explain it, but remember the first GOP candidate did not win, but they had to wait for Lincoln.

There are other events like this in US History.

In fact if I am right, when Historians look back at this period they may even make a connection between Ross Perot and Dean, as in some ways they are drawing from teh same source of discontent. (And try to be honest here when you look at some of the things that Perot was saying), Their legacy may indeed be the rise of a new political party.

And yes I like Dean, I have given money to Dean, I cannot do much more than that right now, except vote. But as a historian I see what is going on right now as the Third American Revolution... and the links to the summer of our discontent under Perot and now are there.

That discontent will flourish into a long standing movement, in that I agree with you... and Dean may be able to tap into it far better than Perot, but there seems to be a need for a new party (and nudge hint, I suspect it will be a new conservative party, as the GOP is now seen as too extreme by many in this country, like the Whigs)

Hope this helps... 1800 all over again...

[madfloridian]

2. Yes, it will be long-term.

I don't think some people have a real understanding of how deeply his message resonates, and widespread his support is.

He may not get the nomination, but he needs to be heard.

[BruinAlum]

3. Question

Could you elaborate or be more specific about what you mean by "The retaking of the Democratic Party from its free-trade, corporate arm" and perhaps how that might be achieved?

[fabius]

4. One idea is...

...to get involved in the local party apparatus as precinct committee, district and county officers, etc. and gradually fill more of the party organization with progressives.

In Tucson AZ (1981 to 84) we got a large share of power in the party with just a bunch of Young Democrat rabble rousers. Not too hard because the party organization was a bit thin, a far cry from a "machine".

The "new century" model of organization would more resemble "MoveOn".
www.dailykos.com has a proposal for a form of this, where we can target Congressional races and raise money nationwide to challenge Repub incumbents or defend our seats. Similar also to the Dean blog.

As I said, we should talk about it and be open to suggestion. My previous experience is all with the "old" form of political organizing. Some of you others may have more experience with Internet ocommunications and organizing. This campaign has proved that you need both.

[BruinAlum]

6. So essentially starting at the local level and building from there

I like the idea

[fabius]

5. As to free-trade corporatism...

we don't need to bash free-traders, just to gain enough power for the opposing viewpoint to have a meaningful debate. That was the failure of the Clinton years and NAFTA - blind faith in free trade, no real opposition.

[Eloriel]

7. Ack!!!

You weren't doing too badly UNTIL:

A committment by members to give regularly both to the DNC and to the "progressive" wing would give a firm funding base and leverage with the party leadership.

(Although the premise that Dean is somehow out of the game at this point grates on me rather significantly too.)

Anyway, the DNC will NEVER get a dime from me (and they have in the past -- tho a distant past since I've been pissed with them for quite some time).

If you somehow think working WITH the DNC is the way to go -- look, they're the ones who have fought to get him OUT of the race.

I really have to question this too:

The progressive Democrats must be well-financed and well-organized. We must reach out to and promote the real concerns of Blacks and Hispanics, and should adopt a "Green" platform (as will be necessary for human survival). I think we can find common ground with Libertarians on civil liberties issues.

FWIW, I think Dean's message transcends all those labels and groups. It certainly does for the legions of people who are already WITH him from those various categories. I know I certainly think differently about all that -- so much so that when I encountered that paragraph I wanted to nod off and go to sleep. Dean just zooms past -- and integrates -- all of it. That's my take, anyway.

He has already addressed -- and brilliantly IMO -- the REAL concerns of race and racism (that takes care of Blacks and Hispanics). He's already got a great Green platform (IMO) while perhaps not being ALL the most ardent environmentalists would like. He's already got some great Libertarian support.

I frankly don't see a thing that needs to be changed or even added.

I would encourage you to go back and read some of his speeches. Here are some of my faves (in no particular order):

SPEECHES: http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=about_speech_archives

June 23, 2003 ANNOUNCEMENT SPEECH
http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6455&JServSessionIdr002=egd9mbtdw1.app196a&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=1321

Dec. 15, 2003
Global Alliance Against Terrorismhttp://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=about_speech_archives
te/PageServer?pagename=about_speech_archives

Dec. 18, 2003
ECONOMY: A New Social Contract for America's Working Families
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002754.html#more

RACE: Restoring the American Community - SC, Dec. 7, 2003
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002565.html#more
DU thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=844281#846961
Black Commentator http://www.blackcommentator.com/68/68_cover_dean.html

Cooper Union address -- Nov. 5, 2003 -- Campaign Finance Reform
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002136.html#more

Enviornmental Speech
http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7383&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=1321

Declaration of Independence
http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=declaration_text

Plan to Strengthen American Cities
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002863.html#more

WISCONSIN SPEECH - Feb. 9, 2004
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/003625.html#more