Word is out via The Hill. Kaine is better than Dean was. He stays win or not.

[madfloridian]

How about them apples? This of course is a puff piece, but it is the kind that a fellow named Rahm is famous for getting out to the public. Why it is out at this time, I don't know.

It's almost amusing in its predictability. It praises the insider chairman, and it makes sure to put the "other" "outsider" chairman in an unfavorable light.

I notice the main reason given for Kaine's superiority is that he gets along so well with Congress. I am not sure that is a good way to judge anyone right now. After all, Howard Dean drove congress crazy...but we won the House, the Senate, and the White House under his chairmanship.

Top Dems have Kaine’s back even if party loses big time in November

Isn't that amazing? They did nothing but threaten Dean, but Kaine is in no matter what.

Senior Democrats in the White House and on Capitol Hill are expressing confidence in party Chairman Tim Kaine despite the possibility of huge losses in the midterm elections. In an interview with The Hill, White House senior adviser David Axelrod said the Obama administration will “absolutely” have confidence in Kaine’s leadership even if Democrats take a drubbing this fall.

..."Lawmakers and party insiders contacted by The Hill expressed unified support for Kaine’s work as chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and praised him for working to channel President Obama’s grassroots support into a tool for governing.

Then comes the real point of the article. Kaine good, Dean not good. It is really just that simplistic anymore.

Kaine’s smooth relationship with congressional leaders stands in stark contrast to that of his predecessor at the DNC, Howard Dean.

Dean famously bickered with then-Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) during his tenure, though the former Vermont governor also attracted accolades for his “50-state strategy,” which some say helped Democrats regain control of Congress in 2007.

Kaine is much more reserved than the outspoken Dean. The former Richmond mayor isn’t known for his sound bites, and unlike Dean and Steele, he is not gaffe-prone.

This coming out in a week that saw Robert Gibbs going after "the left" publicly and openly, and the PPI's Will Marshall joining him in massive attacks on the netroots.

It is as though all the work and effort and donations via the internet as well as our efforts on the ground are all forgotten.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Because the DLC

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8965333&mesg_id=8965333">loves to lose

(And blame the Left)

[madfloridian]

7. That's funny. I just used your link below.

Even before I saw this. Great minds...:)

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Woo-hoo!

I love having my ego stroked.

(After the day I had to day, I could sure use it... full-frontal bizarre office politics...)

Thanks! And your posts rock!

[tsuki]

12. I think that the DLC is angry with Dean for the wins. The voting with the

Republicons because they're keeping their powder dry strategy doesn't play well if you are in a majority.

[madfloridian]

20. You might have a point.

The post partisan feel is so strong....if you are in power you better stand up for things. Easier to be brave on issues when the other party controls at least one house.

[villager]

25. Right -- they've been called out, exposed, as corporate errand boys now

...just more passably "sane" than their GOP counterparts. That's the only difference.

[mod mom]

32. They're mad at Dean for stirring up progressives. I swear....

they'f rather have a Republican win than a Progressive.

[Dr.Phool]

39. Of course. That's why they run liberals out of races and recruit republicans.

The legacy of Harold Ford and Rahm Emmanuel. Among others.

[bobbolink]

50. "they'd rather have a Republican win than a Progressive." Sadly, I think you are right.

Very, very sad.

And that is what we are seeing here and elsewhere... the party, (as they envision it) is much more important than the country and her citizens.

Reagan won.

[tavalon]

44. Yes, I think the most painful lesson many of us have already gotten

and even more will get if the Democrats maintain their "majority" is that the Democrats get real uncomfortable when in the majority because they can't pull their roll over and give in routine as effectively. We notice more when they are in the majority. At least many of us are beginning to get it.

I'm voting straight Democratic ticket this fall just to spite them.

[Jim Sagle]

66. Oh, snap!

:headbang:

[Divine Discontent]

79. who gives $ to them anymore, by the way??? corporations?! They are ridiculous.

[Catshrink]

2. Summers, Geithner, Rahm, Duncan, Salazar

Someone doesn't learn very well.

[madfloridian]

3. Hat tip to Manny Goldstein for these figures.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8965333

"Dr. Dean took over for the 2006 election and was venomously attacked by Rahm Emmanuel and company. How'd Dr. Dean do?
2006: Democrats regained both houses of Congress
2008: Democrats maintained control of both houses of Congress"

More at the link.

[mmonk]

4. I stand with Howard Dean.

[Mad_Dem_X]

35. As do I.

[demwing]

90. I am Demwing, a member of Howard Dean's Democratic Wing

of the Democratic Party. I also stand, sit, fight, fall, and abide with all that the good doctor does.

[tinymontgomery]

5. I know just what it is like

to fight against the suck ups even though the programs went down the shit can. The bosses don't give a ship as long as your a suck up.

[depakid]

6. Dean needs to keep far away from this bunch

[AnArmyVeteran]

9. The top of the democratic power structure sure attracts a lot of losers.

Kaine has zero imagination, zero vision, zero guts and zero leadership abilities. So that makes him perfect to lead the DNC. Dean was 1,000,000 times better than Kaine.

[Dr.Phool]

40. They could replace Kaine with Harry Reid if he loses his election.

Yeah, that's the ticket.
:sarcasm:

Imagination? Whaddaya think this is? Disneyland?

[AnArmyVeteran]

52. LOL! That's funny!

[Jim Sagle]

10. Dean is bad because he wins. Kaine is good because he loses.

The more the Dems lose, the more easily they can cave to Republicans, and the sooner they can retire to the corporate sector and cash in.

[Octafish]

19. And everybody is happy.

Seriously happy.

[WhiteTara]

11. Rahm has very thin skin and a very strong

ego. He really is a divisive person.

[Dr.Phool]

41. Translation: He's an asshole.

[ProSense]

13. Dems are having a record fundraising year and supporting local parties

PDF

With a 9.5 percent unemployment rate and slow job growth, President Barack Obama’s party is “the underdog,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said. His group is facing an “uphill” fight to keep control of Congress and plans to spend a record $50 million on this year’s campaigns, Kaine said in an interview with Lizzie O’Leary for Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt,” airing this weekend.

link

Seriously, Dean is likely happy to see the party doing well, and is likely supportive of Kaine.

[Catshrink]

14. Rah fucking rah.

too bad money doesn't equal spine.

[ProSense]

15. .

"We've got a president in there we can believe in," Dean said. "Make sure between 2010 and 2012 he can continue to pass big pieces of legislation. He needs a Democratic majority in the House and Senate."

link

"Rah rucking rah."

[cornermouse]

31. Linked to yourself again? Did you, perchance,

read your link's link or were you just counting on others not reading it?

http://www.courant.com/business/hc-afl-cio-howard-dean-20100816,0,296678.story

"Dean, the former governor of Vermont and a presidential hopeful in 2004, talked about his disappointment as a doctor that the health care reform that passed wasn't stronger.

He reminded the audience of the flip-flop of Connecticut's Sen. Joe Lieberman, a former Democrat, now Independent, on expanding access to Medicare. A proposal to allow uninsured people in their 50s to pay the full cost of Medicare coverage won a majority of Senators' votes, but failed to reach the 60-vote supermajority required to overcome Republican resistance. People in their 50s have the most problems getting affordable health care on the individual insurance market, and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the buy-in would have improved Medicare's finances, because the new participants would be younger and healthier, and would pay far more in premiums while using fewer services.

"It came within one vote. I'm embarrassed to say that vote came from this state," Dean said. "Remember who sold you out on health care. We can do better. We're not going to forget that in 2012."

[mitchtv]

17. they'll need every nickel

Dean is a team player, but everyone has their limits

[MsPithy]

22. A "bajillion" dollars will not buy my vote

for the corporate Democrats. What ever policy or agenda you think is important, corporate cash will ruin it all. Publicly funded elections are the only way to save our country.

Screeching about the "republicans will wiiin!" in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1......

[ibegurpard]

24. Hope it buys them lots of foot soldiers

I sure as hell will NEVER, EVER phone bank, precinct-walk or poll-watch for Baucus again.

[Ignis]

75. What a prize he turned out to be, eh?

:argh:

[mod mom]

33. Beware of those figures. The GOP is raising record amount thru PACs:

Karl Rove group touts Portman in $500K Ohio ad buy
Posted by hwilkinson August 17th, 2010, 12:00 pm

American Crossroads, a conservative political committee created by former Bush advisor Karl Rove and former RNC chairman Ed Gillespie, has launched a $500,000 TV ad campaign touting Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman.

American Crossroad is a 527 committee that is exempt from federal fundraising and spending limits and has close ties to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has already run its own TV in Ohio media markets backing Portman.

-snip

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2010/08/17/karl-rove-group-touts-portman-in-500k-ohio-ad-buy/

[mod mom]

36. BTW..here in OH Kaine's leadership ain't working:

OH Senate Race:

Aug. 16 Fisher (D) 39.0% Portman (R) 48.0% Rasmussen
Aug. 08 Fisher (D) 36.0% Portman (R) 43.0% Reuters/Ipsos

OH Governor's Race (Democrat Strickland is the incumbent)

Aug. 08 Kasich (R) 48.0% Strickland (D) 39.0% Reuters/Ipsos
Aug. 02 Kasich (R) 45.0% Strickland (D) 42.0% Rasmussen


http://polltracker.talkingpointsmemo.com/contests/geo/OH

The corporate wing of the party both national & state launched an attack against a Progressive (and impressive) Jennifer Brunner (current SOS who cleaned up after Ken Blackwell) and now they're paying for it. The GOP is dumping money through back channels . The numbers represented for Kaine & the DNC only tell one part of the money equation.

[Bluenorthwest]

37. Here in Oregon it says the RNC is outspending the DNC

So nice way to thank us for all we did in 08. We know what it is, it is a slam at our sort of Democrat, Progressives like DeFazio, not religionist bigots of the sort Timmy is happy with. The message is very clear to all of us here. We put Obama over the top, brought him his largest crowds and vast support. Since election day, it has been scoldings for not being more conservative and religious mumbo jumbo based. "One man, one woman" Kaine hates us out here, and it shows.
Thanks for making it so clear with that number, so many Democrats here will see that today and be told exactly who is repsonsible, Timmy.

[Lost4words]

63. I think Dean would be discouraged, like most democrats today

[mitchtv]

16. siguen cabrones

(Keep it up assholes) Go ahead take advantage of Dean's good nature long enough and he may decide being a team player is not helping anyone.He may have to save the party again.

[hobbit709]

18. Translation: Dean won't kiss ass

[hulka38]

21. After all these years my party is becoming

nearly impossible to support.

[Lost4words]

64. Im past that, I am wondering why we need a fed that works against the best interest of the country

and her people in favor of the mega elite!

[hulka38]

74. My brain keeps trying to pull me where you are. n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

23. MadFlo, is it okay to reply to your thread and say . . . . .

. . . . . . . "are they FUCKING kidding me??"

[madfloridian]

26. lol

Fine with me, Stinky. Fine with me. :evilgrin:

[laughingliberal]

27. Just keeps reinforcing what's been bothering me for a year.

The prospect of big Republican wins don't seem to bother them much. I get the impression they'd be much more upset if they thought a lot of new liberals would infect the legislature.

[liberation]

98. That is the reason why I am so fascinated when the usual DLC types use their tired accusations

90% of their talking points revolve around the fact that the "professional left" somehow wants the GOP to win. Besides the obvious logical dissonance associated with conservatives (and let's not kid ourselves DLCers are for the most part of either moderate to full blown conservative persuasion) accusing progressives of wanting reactionaries to win.

Now it is clear to me these DLC hacks operate just like their GOP counterparts: under full blown projection.


I just take it for what it is now: a surreal theater of the absurd. To hear DLCers crying wolf because their preferred blue dog may lose to a republican, as if somehow there was that much of a difference. LOL

At some point progressives need to just move on and stop playing the DLC's inane framing games. Whenever I hear one of these moderate Dems crying me a river because the republicans may win, I simply respond "so?" because even though there may be some stylistic differences, from an intellectually honest standpoint there is little difference between in content between the blue dogs and the GOP.

[political_Dem]

28. Are they blind?!? Kaine is horrible.

I've never seen any evidence of this man fighting the Republicans on any thing. Instead, he's another one of those Dems who like to bend down and lick the GOP's boots while they screw us over.

When will the Dems learn that being laid back and subservient to the RW bullies only causes us harm?

For God's sake. We need a fighter who will use the bully pulpit to expose the lies of the GOP. We need someone who will use the press to counteract the crap the Republicans put out there. The base needs a leader who is two-fisted in his/her approach.

Kaine's too tame, even for a DINO.

[old mark]

29. Rec. Thank you. The more I learn about the "New Democratic Party"

the more it makes me sick. I believe the remainder of Obama's first term will be spent sitting idly as the GOP blocks and negates every bill the Democrats introduce into congress. The Dems will spend the time till 2012 blaming the GOP - and their own left...and raising money to run in 2012.
Dean is a "troublemaker" to these assholes, and Rahm Emmanuel is a great man...

Got me wondering how the Socialist Workers Party is doing lately...the Democrats seem determined to really suck.

mark

[Overseas]

30. I want Dean back too. I want that 50-state We Are Democrats strategy back. //nt

[City Lights]

34. I'm not impressed at all with Kaine.

It's telling that the unimpressive Kaine has such a "smooth" relationship with congressional leaders, while Dean did not. Sounds like Kaine knows his place.

Recommended.

[Time for change]

38. Hmmm. I wonder of all the Democrats who lose their seats this November will "have Kane's back"

[DFW]

42. Anyone notice what Kaine has to say when he is invited to all those talk shows?

No? Nor did I.

In fact, I don't even know what the guy's voice sounds like. He's truly The Invisible Man.

If poll numbers indicated that he was a dynamic behind-the-scenes whirlwind, I would be
OK with that, but they don't. They indicate that he's hardly there at all.

Who does the media turn to when looking for a party voice?

Three people: Anthony Wiener, Alan Grayson, and Howard Dean. Why? Because they give us a voice.
They are articulate. They are direct. They inspire, and with facts, not Gingrich in Wonderland
fantasies.

Kaine doesn't have Murdoch's money or his air time, but if he has Rahm on his back, even King
Midas couldn't give him a golden touch, much less a golden voice.

People always want to hear Howard speak because what he has to say is worth listening to. THAT
should be the case with the party chairman whether or not we have the White House. Not even Andy
Tobias, much as I respect the man, has been able to tell me ONE memorable thing Kaine has said
or done.

[BlueMTexpat]

43. While I certainly wish success for Kaine and the Dems,

I can do that without denigrating the efforts of Howard Dean, who was the best DNC Chair ever, bar none.
Why can't the Rahm-like robots do the same? The mean-spiritedness that they demonstrate so consistently is indeed worth of ... Republicans.

Methinks they doth protest too much.

The best thing that Dean did for the Democratic party and for the nation, IMHO, was to rebuild the state Dem networks everywhere. They had languished for far too long while the typical Dem strategy until then was to concentrate only on "key" races. If Kaine really does let those networks go, then Dems will likely lose and Kaine will deserve to be bounced. It's as simple as that.

How do they think that the RWers got to be so strong? The RWers designated ALL races as "key" (and still do!) and with the support of too many false religious leaders who used their pulpits for political propaganda aided and abetted by the corporate controlled-media, they have been able to disrupt the political processes in this country to the detriment of us all. Howard Dean understood that. It seems to be too difficult for most of the Beltway Bunch to understand. One wonders exactly what they begin smoking once they get there.

In the meantime, Dean continues to do his best for the country through DFA and appearing locally wherever he can. He is a true statesman and thank God for his efforts. There are many of us who value him and them - and always will. Thank you, Howard!

[madfloridian]

68. Amen to those words, DFW

:hi:

[BlueMTexpat]

69. Thanks also to you for keeping the issues front and center.

:hi: :yourock:

[Ignis]

76. Well said!

:thumbsup:

[tavalon]

45. The pretense is certainly wearing thin isn't it?

[mwfolsom]

46. Kaine, a border-line homophobe stays because he fits not because he's doing a great job.

Kaine is a creep plain and simple. He's also a border-line homophobe.

The reason he will stay is because he fits in with their mindset - to them winning isn't nearly as important as maintaining the status quo -

Here's something I posted after he got appointed in June of 2009 - see:
http://nobhillobserver.blogspot.com/2009/06/tim-kaines-record-on-gay-rights.html
................................................
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Tim Kaine's record on Gay rights -
I wondered if DBY in the post below had been fair to Tim Kaine, former Governor of Virginia and current head of the Democratic Party. On Google I used the search phrase/words:

Tim Kain gay record

What you find below is from the results of the first half of the first page of that search. You decide -

From Rod 2.0:Beta when Kaine was being considered for VP:

The icing on the cake is Kaine's woeful record on gay rights—against gay adoption, partner benefits, discrimination legislation, and ,of course, against same-sex marriage and supported the amendment that now bans gay marriage in the Commonwealth. The Virginia governor also has the distinction of running one of the more creative gay-baiting campaigns in recent history, branding his anti-gay Republican opponent "having a gay sounding voice."


From a Washington Blade article titled "Va. House approves gay marriage ban amendment":

Kaine spokeswoman Delacey Skinner said that the governor-elect will sign the bill to call for a referendum. Kaine supports the amendment and opposes civil unions, she said. She added that he is interested in discussing measures “to make sure people can still be able to contract with each other.”


From a 2005 post to Sic Semper Tyrannis, a Virgina blog, we get an analysis of Kaine's statements showing how he moved over time to support Virgina's constitutional amendment banning both recognition of Gay Marriage and Civil Unions :

"I think the institution of marriage is fine. I don’t believe we need to create an alternative," Kaine tells Style. "Gays and lesbians should not be discriminated against in housing, or employment. When the question came up in the debate I said I support changing the state discrimination laws to ."

.....

"I have never said I supported gay civil unions, gay marriages," Kaine told the AP last Friday. "I do believe that people shouldn’t be kicked out of their jobs or discriminated against because of who they are."

.....

"Marriage between a man and a woman is the building block of the family and a keystone of our civil society. It has been so for centuries in societies around the world. I cannot agree with a court decision suddenly declaring that marriage must now be redefined to include unions between people of the same gender.

"Virginia defines marriage as being between a man and a woman and I strongly support that law. Regardless of the court ruling today in another state, I am confident that there is nothing in the Virginia or federal constitutions that would require Virginia to alter its longstanding policy about marriage."

.....

The Democrat also insisted that he opposes gay marriage and gay civil unions but supports contractual rights for gay and lesbian Virginians.

Kilgore said he favors a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, which Kaine opposes.

.....

Kilgore and Kaine said they support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriages. Both said they disapprove of adoptions by gay couples.

But Kaine said that when he was a missionary in Honduras, he witnessed orphans who were treated "hellaciously." As a consequence, he would favor allowing individual gays or lesbians to adopt, so long as they create a loving environment, he said.


I could go on but its clear that Tim Kaine opposes gay civil unions, gay marriage, and adoption by gay couples. The good news is that he doesn't support beating up gays and lesbians because of their sexual orientation. I guess we should be glad for that.

Remember that Barack Obama appointed Tim Kaine as the head of the Democratic Party and considered him for the VP slot. As DBY says the signs were clearly there early on - either Barack Obama is a homophobe or simply doesn't care about LesBiGay rights. Sadly we put hope before reality now we must accept and deal with our mistake.

[madfloridian]

48. "stays because he fits with their mindset" Exactly right.

And he is not only anti-civil unions, he is anti-women's-choice.

[mitchtv]

67. so how do you get "borderline" out of all that?

I get something more like "dyed in the wool"

[Ignis]

77. Great post/link, and welcome to DU.

:hi:

[Jefferson23]

47. Makes sense for them to be happy with Kaine, appears he'll be able to produce

the results some of them want.

[AspenRose]

49. It's nauseating the way they treat Howard Dean

Is this how they thank the man responsible for the 50 state strategy?

If they want to keep Kaine, well...it's a telling decision...but they don't have to put Dean down in the process.

I'm not a "Deaniac" but my gosh, this is disgusting.

[madfloridian]

53. That article was about the same day Gibbs made his remarks...

Strange.

I think they look at anyone not part of the establishment as not worthy.

[Iggo]

51. As far as I'm concerned, Dean delivered Congress and the White House.

How could Kaine be better than that?

[joeybee12]

54. This just confirms that the Dems in power would rather lose...KNR

[madfloridian]

73. Might be right.

The majority can be blamed for their stands more readily. Or lack of stands on important issues.

[tritsofme]

55. Dean was in the right place at the right time.

Rahm and Dean both deserve credit for doing their jobs, but Mickey Mouse could have served as DNC chair for those cycles, and Democrats would have seen big gains.

[coti]

57. I agree. The political environment that Howard Dean created in the years

of the 2004 Presidential campaign and following made his job as chairman much easier. He gave a lot of momentum to the Democrats.

[tritsofme]

62. I seem to remember something about a botched war, some hurricane in the Gulf, $4 gas

Wasn't there some guy, Jack Abramoff? A financial crisis? I think those may have had some effect on the political environment a bit independent of the good doctor. Those might qualify as some mighty headwinds for anyone that would be lucky enough to lead through cycles like 2006 and 2008.

Chuck Schumer, who headed the DSCC through 2006 and 2008 has said as much in defense of Menendez in this cycle.

If Dean were chairmen today, he would get his clock cleaned just as sure as Kaine will in November. It mostly has to do with the 9.5% unemployment rate.

[liberation]

100. Oh, yeah.... the electorate was totally aware of who Jack Abramoff was.

LOL, get real.

So what are the excuses for losing in 2002 after the US biggest failure in intelligence and defense, with the first Bush recession (Silicon Valley was a ghost town by 2001)? What about 2004 with a botched war in Iraq and Osama Bin Laden nowhere to be found? What about losing 2000 the a semi illiterate idiot son of an asshole after a relatively successful 2 terms under Clinton?

If your arguments depend on alternative timelines of "what ifs" you need to reconsider. We don't know what Dean would be like as a DNC chairman going to these midterms, simply because the DLC had their way and got rid of him the minute the 08 election was over. Any pretend alternative scenarios seem to me like desperate attempts at having one's cake (support the disastrous DLC strategy) and eat it too (pretend Dean would be in a similar position regardless of the historical record to the contrary).

[iamthebandfanman]

94. and anybody coulda beat bush in 2004

howd that work out for us?

[tritsofme]

97. That wasn't a sentiment I ever espoused.

Bush had a 50%+ approval rating going into the 2004 election, going into 2006 and 2008 he was often below 30%. That is the difference.

[liberation]

99. 20/20 vision is actually an intellectual fallacy, and so are false equivalences.

Rahm and Dean have performed far differently, giving them credit equally is a false equivalence. Claiming someone was in the "right time at the right place" is also a fallacy as oracles do not receive credit for stating the past. Technically everyone who has done anything in history could be considered to be "at the right place at the right time" like Mr. Obama for example.

There is a clear difference between Dean's success track record as DNC chairman and his electoral strategies vs. the previous and current DLC friendly DNC chairmen (McAuliffe sp? and Kaine especially). The DLC and other moderate strategies have been disastrous for the Dems for the past 3 decades. They lost every single presidential election in the 80s, and during the 90s as much as they like to pretend had not been for Perot it would have been iffy for Clinton to win even against such lame ducks as Bush the first was after his disastrous term and Dole. Losing the 2000 election to a boob like Bush the second was beyond pathetic. And so was Kerry's stupid campaign of "always a day late and a dollar sort" against Rove's bullshit. Thus claiming that Dean just had the luck of the draw going for him is a tad disingenuous to say the least, given the historical record to the contrary.

[walldude]

56. This pretty much proves that when they talk about "the professional left"

or the "far left blogsphere" they are really talking about anyone who dares disagree with them. That they are willing to dismiss the man who brought them back in the race so they can keep a mindless sycophant is very telling indeed.

[carolinayellowdog]

58. Dean was and is excellent on TV

Won't trash Kaine here but he's not nearly as charismatic, quick-thinking, well-spoken IMO as "gaffe-prone" Howard.

[Lost4words]

61. Kaine couldnt hold a candle to Dr Dean IMO! nt

[TheKentuckian]

59. Kaine is a "sensible centrist" which is a home run with such folk

[Ignis]

60. K&R.

Gotta love this quote from the Hill article:

Dean famously bickered with then-Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) during his tenure...

Nice job of putting Dean as the subject of that sentence, rather than the Chief Bickerer, Rahm "Fucking Retarded" Emanuel.

:banghead:

[disillusioned73]

65. Dean/Grayson 2016

[Kurovski]

70. Uch. Rahm.

Such an expensive headache.

K&R.

[David Zephyr]

71. Propaganda.

Shameless.

[progressoid]

72. Kaine? Who's he?

[PassingFair]

78. You'd have to actually SAY something to be "gaffe prone"...

And someone would actually have to give a shit.

Got any good Kaine quotes?

We're all on tenterhooks waiting
for his next pronouncement!

What can I say, but :puke:

[TNLib]

80. I've never even seen Kain does he even exist?

nt

[Phlem]

81. I'm with Howard Dean

100000000000000000000000%

-p

[John Agar]

82. Great points here.

I didn't expect this sort of thing from Obama during the campaign.

Now it has become rather routine.

[fascisthunter]

83. the Democratic Party is being controlled by a minority of sellouts (DLC)

fucking make them pay... we already have a republican party, we don't need another substitute. Vote Progressive... want Progressivism, or Liberalism... vote for it, DUH. Not for the sellouts...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

84. Is Kaine an Islamophobic bigot?

I haven't seen any evidence of it, if he is.

[mitchtv]

95. homophobic bigot works for me

[jillan]

85. Thanks but NO THANKS - Bring back Dean! He had everyone motivated.

Or should I say most people motivated because someone will reply to this post saying "Dean didn't motivate me" :P

[MissDeeds]

86. I stand with Howard Dean - period

"Dean famously bickered with then Rep. Rahm Emanuel..." Just one more reason I support Gov. Dean. He is a real Democrat, not like Rahm and his conservadem sell-outs.

God I wish Howard Dean would run for president. It would be such a nice change to have a Democrat in the White House.

[democrank]

87. I`m on Dean`s team...

the "Democratic wing" of the Democratic Party.

[MissDeeds]

88. +100000 n/t

[cascadiance]

89. Translated: He gets along with the corporate Dem party more than the Dem constituency! UGH!!!

It's like the most important thing to Rahmbo and his troops that the ruling class all get along and stroke each other's backsides rather than getting the votes by doing what the people want.

Dean's understood this for a long time! Rahm and the DLC? Not so much!

[DFW]

91. Kaine has won WHAT for the Party? And threaten Howard with WHAT?

Both premises are a laugh.

Kaine has zero track record, and his first election will see us losing seats in the Senate, the House,
and a few governorships. Probably NO party chairman could have prevented that, but to say that Kaine
did a better job of damage control than Howard would have suggests an ingestion of large doses of hallucinogens.

And just what does anyone think they will threaten Howard with? A loss of support for his candidacy? He's
not running for anything. Removing him from an administration post? They never offered him one in the first
place. A ride in a small plane? Howard flies commercial. If so many people find Howard more inspiring than
the current team in power, instead of thinking of that as an obstacle to be overcome, they should start
thinking of it as an opportunity to be seized.

[LWolf]

92. That is despicable. nt

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

93. Kaine who? I'm sorry it doesn't ring a bell. I don't believe I've seen this person

anywhere doing anything.

[bluestateguy]

96. Kind of like Terry MacAuliffe after the 2002 midterms

I waited and waited for the demands to come from the Democratic Establishmentarians that he resign, but they never came, and we were stuck with the loser for another two years.

[midnight]

101. I think we will have to look at the scores of the voters to

evaluate the effectiveness of Mr. Kaine. If he has failing scores, he should go, if he has winning scores-he stays.