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Sunday, December 26, 2004
Chess not Checkers: Dean in '08 not DNC in '05?
Posted by Tim TagarisI have been thinking alot lately about Howard Dean's run for Chairman of the DNC this year. At first thought, my knee-jerk reaction is to throw my support fully behind Governor Dean.
However, I have to keep reminding myself of this exchange between Governor Dean and Tim Russert on Meet the Press December 12th.
MR. RUSSERT: You said you're thinking about running for chairman of the Democratic national party. If you did, in fact, run for chairman of the party and win, could you run for president in '08 as well?
DR. DEAN: No, absolutely not.
In my mind, the battle for DNC Chairman is a struggle for Party reform vs. operational status quo.
There are several candidates out there who are committed to changing business as usual at the DNC Headquarters in Washington, D.C. My belief is that the best of those are Howard Dean, Simon Rosenberg, and Donnie Fowler.
If the struggle for DNC is a battle for reform vs. status quo -- than the 2008 battle will be the final contest in determining who wins the war over the soul of the Democratic Party. Who is the candidate who will be the standard bearer for the issues we hold dear in the next presidential election?
It's not Terry McAufliffe's positions on the war, choice, and social security that people focused their spotlights on in 2004 -- It was John Kerry. Terry McAuliffe's role is a much different one -- operational and organizational.
When I start thinking about the issues that I hold close to my heart, my mind drifts to 2008 and the names that have been bandied about as possible Democratic nominees.
Right now three of the odds on favorites are Evan Bayh, Hillary Clinton, and Governor Howard Dean. I can only hope that in 2008, the words "unelectable" will not be ones that gain as much traction as they did in 2004.
The last thing I want to do is see Governor Dean in charge of raising money and overseeing day-to-day Democratic Party operations for nominee Evan Bayh. Just my personal opinion on that specific ilk of candidate.
Given those options, and most others, I would prefer to see the Governor as the standard bearer in 2008.
There are a handful of candidates who are in favor of reforming the Democratic National Comittee. A handful of candidates with the desire of focusing on a 50 state strategy that contests races further down the ballot than just the presidential election. And an even smaller number of candidates that fit with my economic, defense, and social beliefs.
And none of those other candidates have any chance were they to run for President in 2008.
Governor Dean does.
This is my dilemma. Tell me what you think.
Posted at 08:03 PM in DNC Chair | Technorati
Comments
I too have that dilemma, and I've come to the conclusion that we might as well clean house with the best guy we got now so that in 2008 there's a party worth fighting for, no matter who the nominee is.
Just my 2 cents.
Posted by: Alex at December 26, 2004 08:57 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
I hope Gov. Dean will not take the "Master Cat-Herder" position of the DNC chair. I hope that he focuses on DFA and all the states groups to get more progressive in office at all level--dogcatcher to Senators. So when the Gov. runs for Prez in 2008--he has a army of progressive Democrats to support him.
Posted by: Aaron at December 26, 2004 10:35 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
I absolutely agree with you when you say:
"The last thing I want to do is see Governor Dean in charge of raising money and overseeing day-to-day Democratic Party operations for nominee Evan Bayh. Just my personal opinion on that specific ilk of candidate. . . . .Given those options, and most others, I would prefer to see the Governor as the standard bearer in 2008."
The Guv must remain unfettered as far as his capability to run in 2008.
Posted by: Messenger at December 27, 2004 09:23 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
I'm sorry, guys, but the "Gov" is damaged goods. I was a big supporter of his, but it's not 2003 anymore. Unfortunately, the nature of his loss in 2004 means he would lose again in 2008, and we need to start trying out some candidates who can win. I'm not sure who that is yet, but I know it can't be a guy the media make a fool of, with his own collaboration.
Posted by: ESL at December 27, 2004 01:15 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
Some of the names being tossed around -- Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton -- for 2008 don't seem like good candidates to me. There are two goals here -- the first is housecleaning the party so old hats and old thought on vision, elections and policy is replaced and the Dems retake a center-left economic vision; and communicating that vision. I don't see Howard Dean or Hillary Clinton communicating that vision. There is also one wild card for me: If after all John McCain decides to run, he will actually be running AGAINST the Bush record given his posturing lately.
Posted by: Marc at December 27, 2004 02:06 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
What we Democrats need is someone at the top of the DNC who will support the local (county) Democratic party organizations. There is no help in New Mexico, we could have delivered the state if that had happened. But our Democratic elected officials seem to be more interested in themselvs and their organization than the party. No wonder we could'nt deliver. We need help at the bottom and we need it NOW not a couple of weeks before the next election. I hope the bulb lights up before we suffer additional losses. The Republicans seem to be hitting on all cylinders and we sputter along.
Posted by: Preciliano Martin' at December 27, 2004 07:28 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
Yeah, I know there���s no help in New Mexico. We are essentially in a CIVIL WAR here. Are you from NM? I live in ABQ. E-mail me sagewalker@spinn.net.
I agree, we need help NOW. We've got a wimp for a Senator and a bunch of scared citizens in denial, who won't even talk to each other.
Posted by: Pamela at December 27, 2004 09:03 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
I agree with messenger's post about Dean. I was a big supporter of his early on, but am now looking for someone else to step up to the plate.
My sympathy for N.M. Dems. Out here in California, I'm just waiting for my party to implode.
Posted by: KC at December 27, 2004 10:37 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
Although Dr. Dean is very persuasive and convincing when he speaks, I believe it's obvious that to the average person on the street, his reputation did take a hit in the 2004 primaries. I think he is still a credible candidate, but with need of some image rehabilitation, which should come with exposure. (He seems to me to have gotten much better at his media interactions since the primaries.) One question I have is how can he get that exposure before the 2008 primaries? He'd certainly get plenty of exposure as DNC chair, but that's a bit of a catch 22 now, isn't it.
With the state parties in such dissarray and Democrats in Congress largely failing to stand up for their constituents and their values, it's clear to me that major reform at the DNC is required. Is there anyone but Dean who can chart the course and lead Democrats to a revitalized party, midterm Congressional pickups in both houses, and even greater success in state legislatures? If there is, and I suppose I'd trust Dr. Dean's judgment on this, then it makes sense for Dr. Dean to prepare for a run in 2008.
But I don't see that type of leader in any of the other reformers, not that I know them well. To quote Alex upthread, I have to agree, reluctantly, that we need "the best guy we got now so that in 2008 there's a party worth fighting for", and that's Howard Dean.
Posted by: Bryan at December 31, 2004 06:10 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment