Good news and bad news re DNC Chair and meeting in Minnesota

[Eric J in MN]

Tonight in St. Paul the Minnesota-Democratic chairs listened to 200 people say what they're looking for in a DNC chair.

I said economic populism. Other people said a clear, simple message.

Some people wanted to reach out to centrists more. Other wanted us to be proud lberals.


Good Neww
At the end of the evening, the audience raised our hands to indicate who we want to be DNC Chair and about 80% chose Howard Dean.



Bad News

Minnesota has elected state-party chairs, and so they care about what the people want.

But we were told that in most states, the state-party chairs are SELECTED, and usually the wives of CEOs.

I'm not sure that the wives of CEOs are going to vote for Howard Dean for DNC Chair.

[Capn Sunshine]

1. That's a bit of an overcharacterization

I would say that in my experience, the DNC chairs are longtime party activists , adept at social eventing and fundraising. They are dedicated democrats, and often CEOs themselves, It's far from a vanity position on the west coast, and I've met chairs from Illonois , Wisconsin, New York ,and Pennsylvania none of which I would characterize as anything other than enthusiastic.

If you think Howard Dean doesn't enjoy support among some major players , including many CEOs in California, you're mistaken.

I can tell you there is an undertone among California Chairs that we're tired of being taken for granted in light of what we bring to the table, which is vast sums of money and voters. Kerry paid no attention to California at all and our locals suffered for it.

Howard Dean has been telling us for two years that you run in all 50 states and we like that message. It's a formula for success, not wimping out and trying to be more republican, which is the problem, not the solution.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Are you a California chair? NT

NT

[Rose Siding]

7. Capn, do you think it would be worth it...

having Dean as the chair and losing him as an eventual candidate?

If the DNC were like the RNC and all the bigs would fall in line on whatever fighting positions the RNC chose, and Dean had the juice to compel them, that would be one thing. I don't think that's how it would work. I believe they'd throw up one controversial road block after another (always egged on by repubs) and we'd lose the chance to run Dean again in the bargain.

[DFLforever]

3. To me the bad news from that meeting was that Max Cleland is now

the Kerry candidate, since Vilsack wouldn't fly. Not that he would be a bad choice. Just not a reformer. A lot like Kerry himself.
Incidentally, I've heard, I believe from Capn Sunshine, that Dean is interested in the DNC chair only if it means the DNC is open to change and reform.

Hi Eric: Heard you speak. Good questions! Lydia Leftcoast, too.

[Eric J in MN]

4. My prediction

Either Howard Dean or Simon Rosenberg will be the next DNC chair.

Did you recognize me from the meeting to see F911?

[DFLforever]

5. Nope. I recognized your name from the post in the MN forum

where you mentioned you got your letter re Ohio voter suppression in the Star Tribune.

Edit: I hope you're right about the DNC chair. Rosenberg would be good. I voted for him as well as Dean tonight. I've always wanted to vote twice in an election.

[sonias]

6. I'll take the good news

80% chose Howard Dean. Never underestimate the power of a few determined people. I think most of the DNC membership has never even seen Democrats campaign for someone for DNC chair. At least not at the levels they are probably seeing this year. Education is the key this year. You have a fired up base of voters who want to stay engaged. This is the first time in my life ever, that I have ever written letters to the DNC membership in my state. And I've been voting Democrat for 20 years. Things have got to change.

We want Howard! We want Howard! We want Howard!

Sonia

[janx]

8. Did I miss something? Is there a thread about this somewhere?

?

[Eric J in MN]

9. I'm talking about a meeting I went to last night.

I'm not referring to another thread.

Here is an announcement made before the meeting:


http://www.democracyforminnesota.org/event/2004/12/3

Friday, December 3 6 PM Carpenter's Union Hall 700 Olive Street St Paul, MN 55101 Three additional meetings to be held in different locations throughout Minnesota are to be announced. Check http://www.progressivecaucus.net for more information. In February the Democratic National Committee - the governing body that formulates the vision, determines the strategy for delivering our message, and sets the overall tone of the national Democratic Party - will be electing a new Chair to lead the Party. The Chair is responsible for communicating that vision and the collective values of the national Party. Many of us have ideas about how we would like to be represented, and here is your opportunity to be heard. In Minnesota we have six voting members of the DNC and in true Minnesota fashion they want to hear from the grassroots! In an unprecedented event co-sponsored by the MN DFL and the MN Progressive Caucus, our DNC representatives will meet with everyday DFLers like you to find out where we want our party leadership to take us as we move forward. Come share your thoughts! We look forward to seeing you!

[janx]

10. Thanks for the explanation. I think there's supposed to

be a DNC meeting somewhere on Dec. 11, too, involving a lot of states.

You should post this info. in another forum as well! I love what Minnesota is doing.