Outgoing Dem chair has one place left to visit. Heading to American Samoa next week.

[madfloridian]

He is heading there next week. I found this squib accidentally at Radio New Zealand International. He has said he had one place left to fulfill his promise of visiting every state and territory before his term ended.

I was looking for a book by Cato about Australia and New Zealand, and this little post popped up.

US Democrat boss due in American Samoa next week

Posted at 22:24 on 05 January, 2009 UTC

The chairman of the United States Democratic Party, Howard Dean, will be in American Samoa next week, as part of a plan to visit all 50 states and every US territory while serving as the Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

The Territorial governor, Togiola Tulafono, a Democrat, has invited Mr Dean to attend some of the local inauguration festivities.

The actual date of arriving in Pago Pago for Mr Dean is not confirmed yet.

While in the territory Howard Dean will meet with the local Democratic Party leaders, government officials and traditional leaders, and will deliver the keynote address at a fundraising dinner on January 10th.

Colorado's Square State blog covered his trip to Guam in an interview last December. That is when he pointed out that he needed to get to American Samoa.

From Square State Blog

SquareState: I applaud your recent trip to Guam, and I think it showed a real commitment to outreach and inclusion.

Governor Dean: I still have to get to American Samoa, though and I have to figure out how to do it. It is not an easy flight. It makes Guam look like a walk in the park, and I had to go through Tokyo to get there.

SquareState: I don't even know where you would go for, "Americans Abroad."

Governor Dean: I've done that. Every time I go abroad there are a fair amount; Japan, Australia, Europe. That's not so hard, but American Samoa, I have to be there before the end of my term and that is not so easy.

He is keeping his promise before stepping down on January 21.

[thunder rising]

1. I know I'll miss him. I think the Democratic party will miss him. And, I don't think anybody

understands why. FUCK!

[Bluebear]

2. Unceremoniously kicked to the curb for his efforts.

[thunder rising]

5. We carried Obama on our shoulders to deliver him to the DLC ... this is Sisyphus redux.

Did you read that poem back a few months ago, "Obama please don't suck"

[Bluebear]

6. I did read that poem.

Did he? :(

[thunder rising]

9. Honestly, can't say yes (yet), cause he's not in office. But he has sure employed the entire DLC

[Fearless]

7. An idea...

And this is just an idea which I'm not endorsing necessarily, so nobody get bent out of shape...

Maybe he's being dropped because the party is blaming him for the perceived right shift in the Democratic Party itself.


Like I said, just speculation, not an endorsement of the idea, nor a claim that it is accurate a statement either.

[thunder rising]

10. Yeah right. Please watch this little video from 2003

I'm Howard Dean and I'm here to represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party"


Rewrite history somewhere else.

[Fearless]

12. Back down fellow.

First of all, I said that I didn't believe it to be true. Dean brought the party together very well. Second, I explicitly said that even if it were the opinion of the Dem leadership, it still probably isn't true. Third, I wasn't talking to you. And finally, please vent all you want in response. I'm going to pretend you didn't just try to jump down my throat.

[madfloridian]

11. Glad you are not claiming that to be an accurate statement.

:eyes:

[Fearless]

13. I don't know how I can be more clear that I don't believe it to be the truth...

Should I just shut up because you want me to?

[madfloridian]

15. Okay, now that's weird. Backing off.

.

[thunder rising]

16. And you look just like a concern troll. Lots of disclaimers and a f@W#$ up point

[Fearless]

17. Otherwise you fine people jump down my throat.

Next time surely I should just shut up and get back in line. That's what we're about right?

[thunder rising]

19. You might want to choose the person you attack with your "assumption" a little better in the future.

HD is a hero. Literally. And, this US will not acknowledge it in 50 years.

[Fearless]

21. Let me get technical for a moment.

I said that the Dem leadership MAY POSSIBLY, COULD HAVE considered Dean to be the reason why the party keeps folding to the Rethugs even when in power now. I am blaming them for their mistake. Sorry if it wasn't clear.

I am a supporter of what Dean has done to shore up the base of the party. His successes are evident. However, clearly in my mind, someone (or likely some people) in the party didn't like that. That is the only explanation why he would be booted, IMHO. If I were to guess, it would be the old guard versus the new Democratic party. (Again just a guess.)

Hero may be stretching it a bit IMHO as nothing has been done with the power he amassed yet. But certainly he is a power player now and may be key to the future of this nation.

[thunder rising]

24. NO You're nuts. DLC finally getting rid of Dean is forseeable. Thinking he could veer right?

[Fearless]

26. Not HIM veering right...

The party having ALREADY veered right as evidenced by our inability to stand up to the Rethugs even with the majority. They blame him unfoundedly as they should be blaming themselves.


ALSO: I SAID I DIDN'T AGREE, BUT WAS SIMPLY SPECULATING. GET A CLUE.

[Bluebear]

27. Obama chose Kaine. Why would he dump Dean for bringing a strategy that elected him?

[Fearless]

28. Exactly! A good logical question!

I don't know. However, he isn't the only person who decides the chairman. So I don't think that the Kaine pick was just about that.

Perhaps the Kaine pick illuminates why Dean was dropped. MAYBE he was dropped because the party wanted to seem less liberal thus attracting the Dem version of the Reagan Democrats. MAYBE Kaine was picked because he would attract those people.


ONLY SPECULATION. I don't know how to stress that more.

[Bluebear]

29. All the headlines say "Obama taps Kaine. Obama chooses Kaine"

If he wasn't the only person deciding it, he should control the DNC press releases a little more, because this sounds like a very personal pick. Hell, we thought Kaine would be his VP for a while.

[Fearless]

31. Well, they have to show party unity.

Maybe Obama did like the choice. Maybe he didn't. I don't know. I tend not to listen to the MSM anyways. They're in it for the quick sound bite and nothing of content.

[Bluebear]

22. You're full of speculative thinking, I will say that much for you.

[Fearless]

23. Always question the status quo. Always ask "why" something happens.

:shrug:

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fearless]

30. Because people have to earn my trust, that goes doubly for politicians.

[Pastiche423]

34. An idea...

Why not STFU unless you know WTF what you are babbling about?

[madfloridian]

35. Just noticed your poignant sig line about Andy.

We can't forget him.

[Pastiche423]

38. How could we?

I adored Andy as a friend and miss our late night chats. He spent his last year working for all of US and for that gift, I will keep his memory alive.

[Fearless]

57. Because that's what this counrty is about right?

[JNelson6563]

40. I understand what you are saying

though I am at a loss at how you could possibly think that's anyone's perspective. You may or may not recall that Howard Dean was the one who didn't hope on board the GOP train like almost all the other Dem candidates for 2004. He was dangerously different than them and, of course, we couldn't have that! He spoke out against the right wing pap the others were lapping up and, thanks to the right wing elements in the party and the corporate media, we nominated a candidate who would not make waves by slapping back baseless attacks and speaking up against horrible policies.

No, Howard Dean is known well among the party people and the reason he is getting kicked to the curb now (after his army of supporters forced the handwringing DLCers to accept him as DNC chair) is cause he isn't right leaning enough and believes in taking stuff to the people. Elitists don't much care for that sort of thing and Dean has never been one of them and they never, ever forgot that (or, I daresay, did they ever let him forget it!).

Julie--hoping we don't go back to a 17 state national party

[madfloridian]

42. Exactly.

Hi, Julie.

:hi:

[dansolo]

55. They blame him for standing in the way of the right shift

The leaders in the Democratic Party are hell bent on dragging the party to the right, and Howard Dean was one of the few people standing in the way. He said that he would step down if Obama won, but I believe that Obama could have found a place for him, but he opted to side with the DLCers over Dean. I'm a bit annoyed that Obama hasn't done more to acknowledge Dean's contribution.

[Jackpine Radical]

56. Seems like a whle lot of the professional pols are the ones who MADE the

rightward shift, beginning with the Clintons and carrying through the DLC.

If anything, most of them despise Dean because he has become more of a leftist 50-state "activist." By "activist" I mean those people (like me) who are seen as naive, impractical purists who don't understand the need to do the bidding of the corporations and moneyed classes in order to stay in their favor, keep the money flowing, and be allowed a seat under the table where one can have the first chance at any scraps the rich guys drop on the floor.

[crispini]

3. K and r

[madfloridian]

33. Thanks.

He deserves credit for keeping his promise. :hi:

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. January 21st not June.....

Anyway, he's not done yet after that.

He's not one that goes away quietly thank god but always speaks up.

He's done a great job and expect him to get another one.
He's a wrestler.

[thunder rising]

8. Like Harry Reid was a boxer ... screw that. HD IS a great man.

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. Wellstone and Dean were wrestlers

Wellstone wrestled with my brother in high school.

Boxers get hit in their head a lot.

[thunder rising]

18. For all it's worth, HD kept the US from descending into riots and chaos. He gave us an out pointing

to the future. All the while he stood with no Secret Service protection. That guy is a hero.

[Ichingcarpenter]

20. Hey......... I'm a fan

no need to preach to the choir.

[madfloridian]

44. He stepped into a leadership vacuum.

And yes, he spoke out with no security protection.

[madfloridian]

32. Off topic, but odd. The DNC blog has not worked since mid December.

http://dnc.org/blog.html

This is the second spell of that, but this is a much longer time.

Maybe they won't have it, just have the blog at the Obama website.

[madfloridian]

36. Map....this is really keeping a promise.

[KamaAina]

46. Hawai'i is just off the upper right of that map

Hawaiian Airlines flies from Honolulu to Pago Pago, twice weekly. Not uncommon in the Pacific.

Continental flies from here to Guam, more like daily. Wonder why Howard had to go through Tokyo? :shrug:

[madfloridian]

49. Not sure....but here's more about his trip to Guam

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1725

Might give a clue.

[Greyhound]

37. Dumping Dean was a huge mistake. Right up there with bringing in that big Greek horse. K&R n/t

[formercia]

39. I wonder if the Tuna cannery is still there

Beautiful harbor but the smell from the cannery ruined the atmosphere.

[mnhtnbb]

60. see my post #59. Hubby almost became great white bait.

[lostnfound]

41. He's TRUSTWORTHY.. Which is probably why.

the corporate political virus attacked. I look forward to seeing what he will do next.

[madfloridian]

43. A comment he recently made indicates continued activism...

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090105/berman/single

"Obama's advisers are debating whether to create a separate organization to house the valuable assets from the campaign--particularly the coveted 13 million-name e-mail list, which is likely to grow--or to fold the Obama network into a quasi-independent entity within the DNC (think of a vast, Obama-centric MoveOn.org, tentatively known as Obama for America 2.0). "Going forward, they are committed to having a robust operation at the party," says a former DNC official close to the Obama campaign. "Most of Obama's grassroots infrastructure is going to go to the DNC. That's the prevailing gossip of the past few weeks, and it's been pretty consistent." Others aren't so sure; a few DNC members in San Diego privately worried that Obama would make the DNC and state parties mere figureheads, subsumed by the Obama wing of the party.

..."Party veterans like Kamarck are urging the sometimes insular Obama team not to take the broader party for granted. "People always want to keep their own organizations, but the problem is then they go away with the candidate," Kamarck says. "If you want to build a lasting legacy, you have to do it through the party. In the years of Republican dominance, which we now hope is over, one of the things that was striking was how institutionalized the RNC was. They had stable teams, personnel; it wasn't a revolving cast of characters. It was really the place they built a base of strength from."

..."Dean, for his part, wants to move from electoral politics back to his original passion, public policy. "Whether it's inside the administration or out, that's up to the Obama folks," he admits. "With a little of God's grace I have ten or fifteen more years of working activism in me, and I'll use it to continue a progressive agenda."

[BrklynLiberal]

48. WOW! Can you imagine what this country might have been if we could have had

a Wellstone/Dean or Dean/Wellstone ticket? My heart pounds at the mere imagining of it.

[Blue_Tires]

45. k+r

[BrklynLiberal]

47. A politician who keeps his word!!! I am speechless...

:wow:

Bon Voyage Dr. Dean. You will be missed. {sigh}

[madfloridian]

50. And..

still only found in the New Zealand media. :shrug:

[BrklynLiberal]

51. EXCELLENT point!!!

:mad: :grr:

[madfloridian]

52. Yep

Like he never existed...only in NZ and Samoa. Amazing how they did that.

[MasonJar]

53. Go, HOWARD, you are the greatest by far.

[madfloridian]

54. Keeping his promise.

Good for him. Thanks to New Zealand media for letting us know this.

[madfloridian]

58. Safe trip, Governor.

And thanks for the wins the last four years because we had someone speaking out against Bush.

[mnhtnbb]

59. Hubby did an elective semester of tropical medicine in American Samoa

in the 60's while in medical school.

Went snorkeling off a point where a fish cannery was located. Was very happy to get out of water alive
after sighting a great white shark.

Watch out for the chum, Dr. Dean!