Words from Howard Dean in 2004 and Borosage in 2008 about party direction.

[madfloridian]

I don't think the party leaders paid any attention to them at all.

Speech At George Washington University, December 8, 2004

Four years ago, the President won with 49 percent of the vote, And the Republican Party treated it like it as a mandate, and the Democrats let them get away with it.

.."Here in Washington, it seems that every time we lose an election, there's a consensus reached among decision-makers in the Democratic Party is that the way to win is to be more like Republicans. I suppose you could call that a philosophy, and this is the name of that philosophy: 'if you don't beat 'em, then join them.'

I'm not gonna make a prediction -- but if we accept that philosophy this time around, in four years from now another Democrat will be standing right here giving this same speech. We cannot win by being "Republican-lite." We've tried it; it does not work.

..."The destination of the Democratic Party means making it a party that can communicate with its supporters and with all Americans. Politics is at its best when we create and inspire and sustain a sense of community. The tools that were pioneered in our campaign -- like blogs, and meetups, and most importantly, community-building -- are just a start. We have to use all the power and potential of technology as part of an aggressive outreach to meet and include voters, to work with the state parties, and influence media coverage.

And of course the most practical, and important destination is winning elective office. But we have to do that at every level of government. The way to rebuild the Democratic Party is not from the consultants down, it is from the ground up.

..."When some people say we should change direction, in essence they are arguing that our basic or guiding principles can be altered or modified. They cannot.

On issue after issue, we are where the majority of the American people are.

What I want to know is at what point did it become a radical idear to stand up for what we believe?

And from Borosage from November 4, 2008 at Campaign for America's Future.

Amazing Grace: Hallelujah and Get to Work

And the world will look at America with new eyes. For a shining moment, we will be once more that city on the hill, the example of a free people choosing a remarkable new leader. A similar choice -- the son of a native born woman and an African -- could not happen in Europe, in Japan, in China or much of Asia. Amazing grace.

..."And now the work begins. Obama inherits the desert -- with the situation far more dire than many, even now, understand. Manufacturing is at levels not seen since the deep recession in 1980. Consumers are cutting back spending. The banking system is still reeling from losses and shocks. The recession now has gone global. Homeowners have lost $5 trillion in housing values.

So forget about the routine chattering class babble about how America is a "center right" nation and Obama must "govern from the center." With independents and moderates looking more Democratic and liberal on issue after issue, the claim that this is a center-right nation was misleading even before this election. Americans are voting for a northern, liberal, Ivy League educated, African American, former college professor to be president, someone who campaigned on raising taxes on the wealthy, affordable health care for all, investing in new energy, getting out of Iraq and against trickle down economics. Conservative nation?

..."But this beltway clamor about the center serves as a warning to progressives. The entrenched forces of the status quo are already in motion. Obama takes office as the Reagan era comes to a close, bankrupted by its own failures. But change, as Obama says, isn't easy.

Yet right after the 2008 election the think tanks called for a move to the center, for "post-partisanship" which technically means one party rule.

Already before this election the newest centrist group to be heard from has sent out word via Politico that we must not move to the left.

Third Way’s leaders argue that the president and congressional leaders recognize moderates matter more than ever.

“The party is about to come to a major fork in the road,” said Jonathan Cowan, Third Way’s president. “A left turn at this juncture is a turn toward permanent minority status.”

[madfloridian]

1. When the new chairman was announced Dean was left out. He was in Samoa...

and did not know of the announcement at the DNC until later.

Dean in Samoa


Governor Howard Dean receives the ceremonial Ava at a gathering held at Government House at Mauga o Ali’i on Friday, Jan. 9, 2009.

Earlier in the day, Gov. Dean fielded questions from the local media during a press conference held at the Tradewinds Hotel

Dean is visiting American Samoa for the first time, his last stop on a tour of every US state and territory, a goal he set while serving as Chairman of the National Democratic Party, an office he will be relinquishing soon as President-elect Barack Obama has named Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia to succeed him.

A Daily Kos blog at the time also noted that they had failed to notify him.

Despite reinventing the whole Election organization of the Democratic Party, and leading it to in consecutive triumphant election cycles, Dean was completely passed over for the Cabinet position he coveted (Health and Human Services). He was also shutout from consideration for any other administration post. And there have been allegations that Dean was not even invited to attend the event with President-elect Barack Obama introducing Gov Tim Kaine at DNC headquarters to be his successor, which Dean indicated he would have attended (rescheduling a trip) had he received such an invitation. The shabby treatment of Howard Dean, by the Democratic Establishment is baffling.

[madfloridian]

2. In 2008 we were given a mandate to govern.

I believe we were too cautious. nyceve at Daily Kos mentions how offering Medicare buy-in to those 55 and over might have been a key to the senior vote. It would have been an obvious thing to people, tangible. Dean really pushed for that, but to no avail.

[leftstreet]

8. +1

[YankeeLeft7x]

3. Hail, Hail, Howard Dean! Read this Excerpt: by Mr. Dean

When some people say we should change direction, in essence they are arguing that our basic or guiding principles can be altered or modified. They cannot.

On issue after issue, we are where the majority of the American people are.

What I want to know is at what point did it become a radical idear to stand up for what we believe?

Fifty years ago, Harry Truman said that "We're not going to get anywhere by trimming or by appeasing. And we ought not to try it."

And we are still making the same mistakes.

Lemme tell you something: there is only one thing that the Republican power brokers want more than for us to lurch to the left -- and that's for us to lurch to the right.

[sonias]

4. I still miss him as our DNC Chair

Our national leaders never learn. When voters are given a choice between a real republican and republican lite, they're going to vote for the republican. Every time!

To emphasize what you posted above:

.."Here in Washington, it seems that every time we lose an election, there's a consensus reached among decision-makers in the Democratic Party is that the way to win is to be more like Republicans. I suppose you could call that a philosophy, and this is the name of that philosophy: 'if you don't beat 'em, then join them.'

We're off the tracks again. :(

[madfloridian]

7. He would not want the position with a Dem in the WH

Because it becomes just like OFA...an organization that pushes the president's agenda.

[sonias]

9. I know

But we had a person who understood what the Dems need - a 50 state strategy. A winning message. Kaine is not that person.

I'm just sad there is only one Howard Dean. :(

:hug: madfloridian

[BurtWorm]

5. The think tanks and pundits are one trick ponies.

Not worth paying attention to most of them except as indicators of what not to do.

[madfloridian]

6. But one think tank trio controlled our policy the last 3 years.

The DLC/PPI/Third Way group.

Seems to me the DLC sets the policies, the Third Way sends out the memos, and the PPI group appears to set the direction on foreign policy...while they insult liberals all the while.