Dean's new Dream

[Perky]

I want to start this by saying that I was never a big Howard Dean Devotee. I just am solidly ABB. If we collectively have decided on Mr. Kerry. so be it.

Now having said that.....Go Howard Go!.

Dean's new organization is preciesly what he is suited to do. In fact I sort of suspect at some pint we will be talking about the DFA in the same breath as we speak about the DNC and the DLC. Again.....So be it.

But here is what I want to suggest:

Howard Dean ought to champion a New Contract with America. He ought to be a large proponent of balancing the budget and protecting the future. He ought to be about Education and Health Insurance Reform and SSI reform. He ought to be at the forefront of a call for stronger corporate governance and less corporate hands scratching the back of politicians. (He ought to stay away for the war in my opinion)


In short, Howard Dean and DFA ought to be about taking back Congress by infusing new blood into the party at that level. Howard Dean should partner up with Al Gore and our former President to take back the House.

His Reward? Howard Dean should be tapped as Speaker of the House if we take it back.

[patricia92243]

1. He alrady does all that - that is why we love him!

[JohnKleeb]

2. how does Dean get to be speaker of the house?

hes not in government now. He certainly if he wants to push progressive values wont run for the house either, unless he wants to run againt Bernie Sanders who is progressive and more so than Dean. I am not saying you have a bad idea but I dont know where he will be useful.

[Perky]

5. I failed to mention this.

There is no Constitutional requirement that the SPeaker be a house member. The House Rules are absolutely mum on the issue as well. THere was actually some talk about bringing back Bob Michel for the role after Newt quit. but they eventually settled on Hastert.

Could you imagine Howard Dean challenging Tom DeLay's whipping boy (Haster that is) to a series of Debate on the efficacy of his tenure?

[JohnKleeb]

8. you learn something new everyday

but lemme be honest here, I dont know if Dean has any experience legislating, he seems to be better as an executive. I would love to see anyone challenge Hasert lol, he seems to be pathetic to me.

[rasputin1952]

9. Hastert was not the initial choice for Speaker...

but the GOP needed someone that could 'bridge the gap' after Gingrich. Hastert could be molded by the more powerful members of the House that prefer to work the strings behind the scenes.

I think that after the next election, Hastert will be gone, especially if the Dem's make a cut into the GOP seats.

O8)

[redsoxliberal]

3. Howard should be secretary of State

or surgeon general... attorney general.

He SHOULD have a prominent cabinet position.

[JohnKleeb]

6. SG would be more possible than AG

I think Kerry will want Spitzer or Edwards for AG. No offense to Dean but you need to be an attorney to be one, and hes a doctor, so therefore SG would be good.

[Perky]

7. Noooo

Cabinet Secretaries serve the President. Howard should not be constrained in that way.


Attoney General? Based on what?
Surgeon General? I thought you said prominent??
State? He is not qualifiied for that position and he would never be confirmed by a GOP-run senate.

[AntiCoup2K4]

4. Just gotta take issue with one point.

"we will be talking about the DFA in the same breath as we speak about the DNC and the DLC."

I would much rather we talked about DFA instead of the DLC, who will one day be spoken of in the same terms as Idi Amin and Josef Stalin.

And hopefully, that will be the eventual result. A Democratic party actually made up of Democrats again :)

[rdfi-defi]

10. did i miss something?

"He ought to be at the forefront of a call for stonger corporate governance...." i do not consider corpratism a good thing. anyone who supports corpratism goes on my 'work like hell to defeat' list.

did i miss something?

[freeforall]

11. What Dean is doing is great!

Talking to the people. Reminding them that they have the power and elect the government. It seems to me that most people have forgotten this.

Also, working from the bottom up to encourage people to run for local offices is an excellent strategy. With Dems in positions in the lower tiers of government, they have a chance to be more influential on the practical day-to-day administration of the country. This could filter up by getting people involved. It won't happen overnight, but the local level is the only level where people can feel involved and empowered. And if people want to have a good life, they have to take some responsibility and participate, instead of letting Washington make all the decisions.

Way to go Dean!

[cjk]

12. Show Support for DFA

by getting involved w/DFA. You have many good suggestions, but following up by getting involved, whether by donating money and/or time, is what can really make it happen. As a Dean supporter for about a year now, I don't want to see Howard and his supporters fade into oblivion, as I think Dean helped force some important issues to the forefront.