Do you see significant differences between DNC 2005-6 and DNC 2000-2004?

[blm]

I do. But am curious what others have observed.

Most notable to me is that Dean has made the DNC more about doing its JOB all around the country and works to strengthen party INFRASTRUCTURE, especially targeting its weaker states.

And contrary to what MSM predicted, Dean LESSENED the dependence on a personality-driven DNC, and is making it a more EFFECTIVE party based on doing the everyday gruntwork it takes to maintain a strong party in EVERY STATE, especially the swing states that went neglected for so many years. Thus we endured a Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004.

Bush didn't win 2002 and 2004 - But the GOP infrastructure that Republican operatives developed working every day for years made sure he gained office.


What do you see?

[havocmom]

1. Yep. Outreach to the common people

Return to the old time Populist Roots that made the Democratic Party a power.

DNC now communicates, and knows that means LISTENING too.

[blm]

2. I see that, too. The difference in being on the ground in swing and rural

states instead of schmoozing at DC establishment's power restaurants.

[havocmom]

3. Dean played well in MT back in 04. Many would have voted DEM

if he had been our nominee. He resonates well in rural areas. He listens and shares ideas rather than projecting an image of knowing what's best. He has a record of supporting the US Constitution. The DEMS need to hold THAT particular banner up higher: THE US CONSTITUTION. There's a platform for ya.

Dean has led the DNC to a point where it is empowering people. Empowered people get things done!

[blm]

4. With a strong DNC almost ANY solid candidate would play well ANYWHERE and

that is the most important point.

[havocmom]

5. Speaking WITH people instead of AT them is job one

When we do that we actually get our point across, share our ideas for solutions and HEAR what people want fixed. By engaging people, we make allies of them and improve ourselves by enrichment from others thoughts and experiences.

AND we kick the legs out from under the GOP propaganda that DEMS = elitists.

Roll up sleeves, dig into the work of fixing what is not working FOR America. Walking the walk - it plays in the heartland.

[blm]

6. The only people Terry Mac listened to were Clinton and Carville, and

neither one of them was interested in infrastructure problems or election fraud - and neither concerned themselves with media bias against Dems. either. They lived in a world where everything was still 1992, 1996 campaign rules.

[Clark2008]

28. I like Dean, but respectfully disagree.

I live in a "rural" state and he had negative numbers here, while Clark and Edwards were pulling lots of support.

[Recursion]

21. Amen to that

Why we weren't doing a 50-state strategy 12 years ago is beyond me, and it's the reason we lost the House then. I blame the DLC, but I guess that's unfair; they had a decent national strategy and we fell down on delivering them the on-the-ground tactics.

Then again, we did win the last two Presidential elections, and we (as a party) refused to make the losing 49% recognize that fact. So, as V would say, if you want to assign blame we should probably look in the mirror first.

[bvar22]

24. Its hard to run as a "Populist" Party....

...when the Party leadership is under the table sucking CEOs dicks and telling LABOR to Fuck Off (DLC).
Dean is bringing the Democratic Party back to the People that have to Work for a Living, but our elected reps need to start coming through for us, the forgotten.

"1. 65 percent (of ALL Americans, Democrats AND Republicans) say the government should guarantee health insurance for everyone -- even if it means raising taxes.

2. 86 percent favor raising the minimum wage (including 79 percent of selfdescribed "social conservatives").

3. 60 percent favor repealing either all of Bush's tax cuts or at least those cuts that went to the rich.

4. 66 percent would reduce the deficit not by cutting domestic spending but by reducing Pentagon spending or raising taxes.

5. 77 percent believe the country should do "whatever it takes" to protect the environment.

6. 87 percent think big oil corporations are gouging consumers, and 80 percent (including 76 percent of Republicans) would support a windfall profits tax on the oil giants if the revenues went for more research on alternative fuels.

7. 69 percent agree that corporate offshoring of jobs is bad for the U.S. economy (78 percent of "disaffected" voters think this), and only 22% believe offshoring is good because "it keeps costs down."

http://alternet.org/wiretap/29788/

8. Over 60% oppose the War on the Iraqi People.

9. 92% of ALL Americans support TRANSPARENT, VERIFIABLE elections!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x446445

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[blm]

29. That's part of it - we are told to act like losers and CHANGE instead of

dealing with what REALLY HAPPENED. Gore and Kerry won, but the Dem party infrastructure wasn't in place to secure the votes - a situation that took years to pull off, and the GOP knew damn well which counties and which precincts were weakest and where best to steal the votes.

[David Zephyr]

7. Excellent post, blm.

Thanks for the kind words about my main man, Howard!

John Kerry is speaking out with power now. He's got his voice.

General Clark never ceases to amaze me these days.

I am feeling pretty damned good about my Party. Really good!

[blm]

9. Thanks, DZ. I really hope people see that there's more to winning the

election than one person.

The whole Clinton thing kind of changed the party structure story to one of extraordinary force of personality, and we saw many people completely forgetting that Clinton could never have gotten in there if the Dem PARTY infrastructure wasn't strong in all sttates, and Dems in the Senate and congress were relentlessly riding Reagan and Bush's asses for the years prior to Clinton's campaign which made his job alot easier.

I think it's a shame the party became so fractured under Clinton because everyone became used to bolstering him instead of the party.

[havocmom]

13. It is an excellent post. Important stuff to discuss and be aware of.

How about some Recommends? :hi:

[calimary]

14. I've got one for ya!

And a kick.

Yes. The Good Doctor has done a WORLD of good for our party. We needed him. And we STILL need him. It took The Good Doctor to diagnose the problem and treat the patient. And we're all very busy in our healing and resurgence. There were people in blood-red states BEGGING for even the tiniest bit of attention from the DNC in 2004, AND before that. And all Terry McAuliffe could think about was fundraising among the cocktail party circuit. Did he EVER get out there and roll up his sleeves and talk to the regular people who might not be able to go to 500-dollar-a-plate dinners? Dr. Dean does it EVERY DAY.

God Bless Howard Dean!!! When somebody teases me about his scream or puts him down, I just look straight into his/her face and almost spit it at them: "I'M screaming TOO!"

[havocmom]

16. Aw-right girl! Glad ya dropped by

You make some damned fine points about McAuliffe's methods in contrast to The Good Doctor! DEM leadership of the recent past just sorta pretend 'the great flyover' didn't matter.

It matters. Every state matters. Dean is absolutely right. We have to win in America.

I'M SCREAMING TOO. If you love America, it's way past time to drop inhibitions and cultural constraints. THERE'S A LOTTA WORK TO GET DONE!

At least Dean didn't hold up the crew of an aircraft carrier and make the skipper turn it around to hide the California coast so he could pull some macho-crap photo op. REAL men get agitated and go into action, sometimes they holler. Chicken Hawks preen and pose, but never far away from the nest. And chicken hawks only say what they're told to say.

[madfloridian]

8. Nice post.

:hi:

[stevedeshazer]

10. Yes, and here's why:

The old DNC focused all efforts on the sure thing...solid blue states, the Northeast, California, and, well, the Northeast and California.

Now there is a DNC presence in EVERY state.

It will take time, but boots on the ground in every state, hell every county will win back voters who have been filled up with radical right-wing bullshit for decades.

The Radical Right won elections since the 1980's because the Democrats abandoned the working class voters in places like Montana...look what's happening there.

You might say, BFD...Montana has three electoral votes, it's a lost cause.

Bullshit. In the last two presidential "elections", any one or two rural and/or small population states that may have swung toward Gore or Kerry would have made all the difference in the ENTIRE FUCKING WORLD.

Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson has led two anti-right rallies in the most conservative state in the Union and has drawn THOUSANDS.

If you just give up certain states, you're doomed to certain failure.

A national strategy has emerged, and look at the incredible results pollwise. Each tiny wave of Democratic support in unexpected places multiplies like ripples on a pond into a tidal wave to the many people everywhere who think just like we do, but have been disenfranchised for so long.

Let's keep throwing pebbles into that big pond and scare away the Republican toads who have inhabited it with impunity and without challenge for so very long.

[havocmom]

12. LOL Montana only has 3 electoral votes, but same # of Senators as NY!

We gotta remember ALL the math, not just presidential math. You are right, some of the smaller states can make a difference in the race for the Oval too.

And when a party doesn't just write off states with less people, those people tend to be more appreciative. They know when a party just sorta overlooks them and it pisses them off. Dean gets it. The 50 State program is a winning idea.

Pollster called a lifelong Republican I know here. Asked if he was supporting Burns: Nope, not any more. Rehberg? Ha! Never again. Went down the line of GOP candidates and the man said no to every one. Caller asked: So, you are a Democrat? Man replied: Nope. Used to be a Republican. Guess I'm an Independent now, cuz I am not what the Republicans have become!. The caller chuckled.

True story. Just happened tonight... to my husband. Howard Dean and his methods work well around here. We've only heard one man in the whole county say anything in defense of bush/cheney, and he doesn't get out much ;) In this county, registered DEMS can meet in an old VW Bug. Dean has done a lot.

edit: typo

[blm]

35. Notice that our system allows for Affirmative Action for RED STATES. lol

.

[KoKo]

11. I see "on the ground" great stuff from Dean. In the Media I see worse

with Rahm Emmanuel and Schumer dissing the Bloggers and folks they "consider Lefties" who are really what used to be Centrist Dems who were driven out by the DLC.

Whoever is making the decision to send out weak Dem Ops who are pushing weak talking points for conciliation with Repugs should be CANNED. I don't believe this comes from DEAN but from the PTB in the Dem Party (THE BIG MONEY!)

Activists/Progressives pushed hard to get State Chairmen in who would support Grassroots...Example: Jerry Meek in NC (A fine Fellow) and other State Chairmen who fought to get Dean in as DNC Head.

Dem Establishment still doesn't support Dean because they want the goods from the K-Street Lobbyists and Big Corporatists that the Repugs have had for so long. It's a battle of the Titans between Dean/Grassroots and the Rest of them. Just My Humble Opinion, of course.

[Cleita]

15. This is why I supported Dean for President.

I liked his roll up your sleeves and make it work philosophy.

[calimary]

23. I did, too. Proudly.

I STILL support him.

[havocmom]

17. Can we get some more a-mens, and a couple more R's?

:headbang:

[Exultant Democracy]

18. yes it has, the 50 state plan is huge and the party is being built now

in every state. Look at AZ if we pick up the 8th and the 5th (and we are almost a sure lock on the 8th now) we would have half the house seats in AZ?!?!?! and the Governorship! Now that is called giving the repugs a purple eye.

[blm]

34. I think beware areas that SEEM safe but are in states under complete GOP

control, like South Carolina. I think they're targeting states where they think they can effect the outcome under the radar - like upset John Spratt. Norman is being pushed so heavily in upstate SC - more signage than I've ever seen for ANY candidate in SC or NC over the last 7 years.

[CarlVK]

19. Dean has been a godsend.

And this is an excellent thread, blm.

[Recursion]

20. Yes: Dean

Dean reminded Dems to reach down, grab our testicles and/or ovaries, and hit back, harder, better, and smarter than they hit us, just like Truman, Kennedy, LBJ, Jefferson, or Jackson would have.

You think for a second LBJ would have let the GOP get away with the crap they're getting away with? If you crossed that guy he handed you your pancreas on a plate the next morning. He's far from my favorite Dem but Jesus, he knew to fight back when the fit hit the shan. Dean's just putting us back in touch with our roots.

[blm]

27. That aspect isn't yet a strength, imo, and detracts from the STRUCTURAL

aspects of the job that he has been diligently working on for the last 18months.

We really DON'T have the communications and messaging machine yet in place because we still have not fully enagaed the battle on the corpmedia yet. Johnson did not have a corpmedia controlling his words and actions via their network news' editting rooms.

I don't want to even PRETEND that we have that under control - - we don't. Dean garners revulsion from the corpmedia just as any Democrat does who is in a position of representing the party.

[bleever]

22. I always appreciate

your insights on these aspects of party politics, especially in light of my visceral confidence in Dean's fifty state strategy.

Fight the bullies locker by locker, not state by state. It's not splashy, it doesn't get you a guest spot on Crossfire or Hardball or the McLaughlin Group. But it's a real victory, where it counts. And what counts, adds up.

[blm]

30. That's the whole thing - it's NOT glamorous, it's TOUGH WORK and

the Dem party needs tough, diligent workers more than schmoozing personality types like Terry McAuliffe and the person Carville has turned into.

In this day and age of programmed voting machines and purged voter rolls, the Dem nominee is only as strong as the Dem election board members in every county of every state.

[havocmom]

25. One more kick, for the java junkies of the morning

:kick:

[ProfessorPlum]

26. K&R

I love what Dean is doing as DNC head. Some actual change in the status quo, for the better.

[blm]

31. nice to see you. Where ya been?

.

[ProfessorPlum]

32. Mostly paralyzed with disgust by the way things have been going

Glad to see you still here fighting the good fight.

DU is such a refuge from the insanity. I miss the old gang. I still see Rummy is Frosted around here occasionally, but haven't heard from Dr. Funkenstein in way too long.

How are you doing?

[blm]

33. I pretty much feel the same - but I have limited alternatives to airing my

views in any ways down here, thanks to mr blm's job in a newsroom. So, DU is my safe haven and primal scream zone. ;)

I haven't sparred with mi compadre, Rummy, in quite awhile - and Dr. Funk has been long missed.

[Beelzebud]

36. Dean reminded the party that they represent 50 states.

Not just the beltway.