I fear Dean won't be DNC Chair

[WI_DEM]

While he has tremendous grass roots support and many leading Dems are behind him such as both Jesse Jackson Jr and Sr., the party bigwigs are going to deny him this position. I fear it will be Vilsack, a decent enough guy, but, in my opinion, adds nothing as far as exciting the base or expanding fund raising at a grass roots level. He also won't be able to devote full time to rebuilding the party since, his real full time job should be Governor of Iowa, which he still is for two more years. But on the bright side, Dean will use DFA to promote the good causes and he will be open for a possible run for President in 2008.

If it isn't Dean the DNC isn't getting a cent from me. It will be DFA all the way--because that organization is willing to work to broaden the party while remaining true to its progressive roots.

[PassingFair]

1. I hear ya, WI

I've just about had it with the mushy middle. Time to demand an investigation of WorldCom and flush them all out of their holes. Really. It appears as if we will be working for a 3rd party now. Not what I had hoped for. But none of my hopes seem to have borne fruit in this cycle. I've got a two year term to serve out as a dem, but I'm not going quietly.

[Mojambo]

2. I agree.

Withold your money from the DNC until they start speaking (and more importantly, ACTING) for you.

I will not donate another dime to the Democratic party.

DFA all the way.

Dean in '08 - "This time we're not settling"

[liberalnurse]

9. We can start planning now.....

then begin the campaign build-up next year! We are much more savvy today!

We won't get fooled again.

[belle]

13. Well, that much I can certainly get behind.

I sent them a good chunk of change while it seemed like KErry actually had a shot of winning. Now Terry McAuliffe sends me a mass email asking "what should we do to improve things, we value your opinion." like it was a marketing survey or something. whatEVer, I said, maybe you should be asking yourselves that, I'm done.

[Forever Free]

3. Well doesn't that mean he can run in 2008?

I heard that the DNC chairmanship requires the post holder to retain the position through 2008, potentially precluding Dean from running for president.

[sonias]

12. No it does not

Our local DFT leader in Austin, TX spoke with Howard recently and that bit of misinformation is being put out by the opposition. No one can deny or prevent Howard Dean from running in '08 and he can hold the DNC chair. Howard Dean has not made up his mind on making the run for that position. If you want him to do it encourage him to do it. E-mail him and let him know we want him.

Sonia

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. DNC hasn't and won't get a cent from me. All my donations pre election

went to DFA and will continue to be so, unless Dean gets the Chair (if he wants it). The DNC is filled with fraidy cats. I'm not going to finance their fear. :hi:

[BurtWorm]

5. Mine too, Mrs. Grumpy!

:hi:

[Eloriel]

6. Vilsack's not that decent

He was in the thick of it in Iowa fixing things so Dean wouldn't win Iowa, including putting his "machine" in gear for the effort.

I'll say it again as I've said on a number of other threads: Vilsack and the DNC deserve each other.

[redsoxliberal]

7. ballsack for chair, and we get forced into the green party

soon. This party will soon no longer be a viable alternative. It is currently made up of a bunch of pricks that I only support because they are not George W. Bush.

[Philostopher]

8. I just delivered this tirade to my husband at dinner, tonight.

I'm not giving money to presidential campaigns where I feel I was coerced into accepting the candidate again. I liked Kerry well enough, I think he would have made a great president -- but I said, early on, I didn't know if he'd have what it took to tough it out against the crapflingers. Clearly, between him and his 'campaign machine,' it wasn't enough to outdo the shenanigans (and I believe there were some).

So I'm with you, WI_DEM -- my money will go to local races, to organizations like DFA, and if they're still allowed to work in '06 and '08, to liberal/progressive PACs and 527 organizations. I'm sick of investing in things I don't wholeheartedly believe in, and I'm pretty much convinced organizations like Democracy For America are the only way we're going to get anything accomplished, here in Ohio.

[a new day]

10. I have been toying with giving up on the Dems all together

But, you're right WI_DEM, no matter how down I feel now, keeping up the hard work locally is the real way to power. There is no quick fix.

[janx]

11. Why the fear, WD?

A major reason that some want Dean to take the DNC chair is to neuter Dean and DFA. DFA would be taken into the DNC fold, and Dean wouldn't be around as competition for the presidential race.

The DNC chair story is being pushed hard in the press by people who want Dean to take it so that he and DFA aren't a threat to the status quo. I am now firmly convinced of that. The only sourced comment I've seen so far is from Grossman. The rest of the quotes are either completely unsourced or are pure speculation on the part of some very bad journalists.

So do not fear! If Dean ultimately does decide to take the position, it's because he negotiated in such a way as to make it legitimate. If he doesn't, it means that my worst suspicions were true.

I hope he sticks with DFA, whether or not he again decides to run for president.