GOP Turns To Howard Dean For Salvation (Too Bad the Rahm Dems Won't)

[NashVegas]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/09/gop-turns-to-howard-dean_n_149577.html

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, in politics and elsewhere. And after two straight cycles of congressional pickups, outgoing DNC chair Howard Dean is no longer a boogeyman for his Republican counterparts -- he's a template for success.

This past weekend, a candidate for RNC Chair, Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzi, said the Grand Old Party would do well to follow the example set by the former Vermont Governor.

"There is a perception that we are a regional party and that we are a party from the South because that's the region we're consistently winning today," Anuzis told Politico. "I do think we need to have our version of the 50-state program that Dean had."

[ProSense]

1. Too bad the GOP still sucks:

This prescription came days after Karl Rove, the architect of the current Republican Party, made a similar plea of his own. Noting incredible margins that Barack Obama had among black and Latino voters, the former Bush strategist -- appearing at a debate on the Bush legacy in New York -- said the GOP had to "be a party governing all Americans... It can only do that by making the case to African American and Latinos."

Implicit within these critiques is the notion that Republicans have become regionalized -- overly reliant on strong turnout among white working class voters, primarily below the Mason-Dixon line. In this context, Dean's vision of building infrastructure across the electoral map -- which, it should be noted, was initially taken from the GOP -- makes sense for the current Republican Party. Why cede the entire New England House delegation when, at the very least, they could force the DCCC to spend resources defending those seats?

But the sticking point, as one DNC staffer argues, is ideology. Putting together institutions to make gains in non-Republican regions only will help if the party has a political message that can resonate among non-conservatives.

"By relying on wedge issues to win, they've used issues to divide people and worked to appeal to an increasingly smaller group of people," said the aide. "Dean's point has not just been that we need to show up in all 50-states but also that as a party we need to ask people for their votes, listen to what they have to say and be willing to work to solve issues in areas where we have common ground, even if we don't agree with everything."

[madfloridian]

2. And the Democrats end theirs.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/3124

[Uzybone]

7. I don't agree that we have ended 50 state.

We are still raising money and pursuing the strategy. Closing political offices when campaigns are over does not mean the 50 state strategy is over. I guess we will find out in 2010 who is right.

[polichick]

16. I can't imagine Obama ending the 50 state strategy after that win.

[Arkana]

21. Not really but ok there duder

[madfloridian]

22. "Duder"? Strange way to refer.

Yes, I think it is pretty much over at least for the ones who were hired by Dean's DNC. It will apparently only be Obama's loyalists who will be hired.

Since it is his DNC now, that is how it should be.

Of course Dean was loyal to him strongly, but you just never know about those other staffers. I am not sure we should all be on the same page all the time. Varied thought is good.

BTW I am not a dude, I am a woman.

[EFerrari]

3. Anyone seen Howard lately? N/t

[NashVegas]

6. He's Supposed to Pop Up This Friday I Think

For some DNC function.

[EFerrari]

8. Thanks. I'll be looking for him. n/t

[Uzybone]

4. I knew the anti-Dems would pick up on that story

not surprising.

[NashVegas]

9. So? Do You Disagree With the Topic?

Do you think Republicans are being smart in trying to reach out to New Englanders and coasters, and/or do you think Beltway Dems are wise to circle the wagons and keep Dean out in the cold?

[Uzybone]

15. I disagree that Democrats aren't listening to Dean

I also disagree that GOP is reaching out to new englanders, coasters and minorities. They are not there yet. Maybe when they get swept in 2010 and 2012 they will change.

[NashVegas]

20. That's Not Really The The Question

The assertion in the OP and just above, is that the Beltway Dems appear to be putting Dean out into the cold.

[EFerrari]

11. How can you read a compliment to Howard as anti-democratic?

[rvablue]

18. I agree......truly unbelievable...would be where where we are today without him?

Thank god we'll never have to find out.....

[madfloridian]

12. "anti-Dems" ??

Really?

[BrklynLiberal]

5. This confirms the genius of Dean and his role in the Democratic successes

in the past 2 years.

[stray cat]

10. The "salvation" was the people raising money and participating

[EFerrari]

13. Right, as if none of us did that in 2004.

lol

In 2004, Howard carved out the net for Democrats and in 2006, he began working on venues we hadn't considered for years.

Yes, Rahm, there is a Howard Dean.

[Uzybone]

17. Most of the people I know and work with didn't

vs 2008 when almost everyone I know got involved in one way or the other. And I live in Texas. I can only imagine how things changed in Democratic states.

I think some of you are determined to place Dean and the Democrats at odds with each other. I have no idea why or how that helps. I admire Dean; I thought he was full of it when he said in 2004 that we should be trying to get the vote of the confederate flag group. He was right in realizing that divisive politics was not the way to go. I think we should all follow that lead and get any from trying to pit groups vs each other.

[EFerrari]

19. Sure. n/t

[RandomThoughts]

14. GOP backed itself into a corner.

By going further to the extremes, and courting votes from non tolerant people. They will lose more and more votes as people become more tolerant. And all through history, all groups that socially interact, become more tolerant.

So as long as they embrace lack of tolerance on a variety of issues, they will shrink their base. This was happening before Rove, what Rove did is realize the smaller size of people that were R's and turned out the base. That combined with marketing to low info voters, he gave them a little bump before the statistics came back in line with where people are.