MyDD :: Dean for DNC Chair: Activism (e.g $)

Dean for DNC Chair: Activism (e.g $)

by conchis, Mon Nov 29, 2004 at 08:32:41 PM EST

Good questions, worthy of the front page--Chris

Two Questions:

I. I presume what we do with our money between now and the January election of the DNC Chair matters a great deal. Where do we put that money if we want it to help get Dean in? Might it be that making a contribution to democracyforamerica.org is helpful because it makes clear that he is a prodigious fundraiser? Might it be that key DNC members would have their heads turned if they recieved campaign contributions from Dean advocates. Suggestions? I'm a novice, but I'd like to understand the particulars of how I can best help.

II. For those of us who have been contacting DNC members, which of the 440 is it most important to contact? Are some particular members known to be influential and persuadable? Swing members? NASCAR Congressmen or security mayors?

By the way, in addition to the list of the 440 at platform, which is a bit disorderly but quite helpful, there is also the list at Phraxos, which is current and complete as of November 8th, but has phone numbers only.

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Why everybody pushing Dean into DNC chair? (none / 0)

I personally already gave my money to Dean.
He was rejected by stupid democrats, whose opinion
was shaped by corporate media (scream 700 times).
Dean is a only person I see who is capable to
save the country. But he will waste his talents
trying to fix DEMS: they are not fixable, they
have no identity and they trying to be in center.
Dean will succeed only IF he will start 3rd party.
If he will try to do that, he will get my money
and time again. And 70 millions voters will do
the same. Remember: we have 45 millions people
without acces to medical benefits. We have a lot
people in poverty and without hope. And we have a lot of people
who lost their jobs and either
unemployed (if official unemployment number is
5.5%, then real number will 11%). And we have
growing BUDGET DEFICIT and growing TRADE DEFICIT
and we have falling dollar...

by WeNeed3rdParty on Mon Nov 29, 2004 at 09:07:09 PM EST

Re: Why everybody pushing Dean into DNC chair? (none / 0)

While I certainly respect Dr. Dean, I must say that this idea that he is the only person on the planet who could save the DNC to be both silly and dangerous.

There were many people behind the movement that was Howard Dean's run for President. This isn't a battle over iconic figureheads, but of ideas:

Small denomination fundraising
Decentralized control
Leveraging technology
Returning to Democratic Party core values
Abandoning safe focus group driven campaigns

All of these things distill down to one core idea: empowering the Democratic Party's base. The problem is that for the players running the show right now that equals a death sentence. I for one have zero faith in the Party powerbrokers doing anything that would risk their power. That's why the party must be taken over from below, not from above.

Editor
Ohio 2nd Blog

by ignatzmouse on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 10:33:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Dean is a Dem (none / 0)

He has made his committment to the Democratic Party perfectly clear. He's not leaving. The Dean Dozens candidates did pretty well, considering they didn't exist (as Dean Dozens) until well after Dean dropped out of the Presidential race.

Some successes: New Senator Barack Obama in Illinois, and new Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz of PA. Two Dean Dozen new governors are John Lynch of NH and Brian Schweitzer of MT. Two won mayoral races, Carroon in Salt Lake City (!) and Potter in Portland, OR.

I could go on about candidates for local offices who were DFA supported, and unofficial DD's like new IL Congresswoman Melissa Bean, who beat Phil Crane, the longest sitting Congressman, and Ken Salazar in Colorado. Many others came close to winning their races, including Christine Cegelis in Illinois who made Henry come our of Hyding to campaign.

Dean will whip the DNC into shape so that Dems will begin winning elections again.

DEAN FOR DNC CHAIR!

by donna in evanston on Mon Nov 29, 2004 at 09:37:24 PM EST

Model maybe (none / 0)

Late last week I got an E-Mail from one of Minnesota's six elected members of the DNC announcint that there would be public hearings on who would be the best DNC. Four dates are annuunced at this point -- more may follow.

I probably will not attend the hearings. Served ten years on the State Central Committee and ran lots (20+) of successful campaigns over the years, but comes a time when disability and the discomfort of sitting through meetings after a certain age trumps much else. But doesn't mean I am not interested, or wish to be discounted. In fact I think the other 49 states need to know that Minnesota is holding public hearings on who should be DNC.

Forget the personalities -- focus on what needs doing and which candidate for DNC has the skill set to do it.

If we want to get back the House, we need someone who can engineer getting back Dem Majorities in the state legislatures sufficient that we can deal with redistricting in 2010. That's the key to the Republican House.

As far as the Senate is concerned -- candidate recruitment is the key. Which DNC chair can do what needs to be done here.

McCain - Feingold changed the balance between the national parties and the state parties. We obscured the meaning of this with the 527's this year -- but that won't hold. We have to rebuild state and local party structures. Who can do it?

Focus on the job description.

by Sara on Mon Nov 29, 2004 at 11:49:18 PM EST

getting people elected (none / 0)

and then coordinating a voting block are the two roles of a party

The Republicans have demonstrated that it's an effective strategy for a radical block of outsiders to take over the machinery of an existing party - and that's what we progressives need to do to counter them. The Democratic party is the one that's ripe for the picking.

DFA and the Dean Dozen candidates demonstrate Dr. Dean's ability to organize an effective, nation-wide machine that can support lots of candidates. That puts him at the top of the list of qualified people to lead the effort.

Any other candidates for the job need to stack up well against that record.

by mfidelman on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 08:22:43 AM EST

Why, how, and my lists (3.00 / 2)

Why do I want Dean as DNC Chair? Well, to be perfectly honest, I'm ambivalent about whether it should be Dean or someone else. What I do want to see is someone with a strong progressive message and someone that understands the importance of encouraging grassroots involvement in all aspects of the party.

How should this happen? Well, in many ways the goal is also the process. A lot of people are interested in Dean becoming DNC Chair. I am telling all of them that if they want that to happen, they must get involved with the party. Here in Connecticut, we are having a DNC Member come to the DFA Meetup on December 1st. I expect we should have a great discussion about the party, both nationally centered around the DNC Chair election, and locally as we get people helping with municipal elections.

And my lists? Platform was set up with a bit of this in mind. Initially, it was for people to get involved in the drafting and ratification of the 2004 Democratic National Platform. Now I am using it to gather supplemental information about different DNC Members. The authoritaive list of DNC members comes from Alice Germond, Secretary of the DNC. A copy of if can be found here.

On top of that, additional information as it is gathered is posted in a list on a state by state basis here.

This is a grassroots effort. If you know any of the DNC members and can provide additional information, please let me know and we can add it to the list.

by aldon on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 10:36:25 AM EST

No to Dean (none / 0)

Dean is great, but he is accident-prone. Remember that Confederate Flag brouhaha? Talk about stepping on your own message.

Dean should play a prominent role in rebuilding the party, but if he is DNC chair, he will be a lightning rod. I fear that the DNC chair also is just where the Repubs want him so they can train a constant stream of gunfire at him, with the help of Timmy, Cokie, and the other Beltway Whores.

He should focus on building his own organization and working with other 527s to build a movement that can take over the Democratic Party, just like the right-wing did after Goldwater's defeat in 1964.

by mysteve on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 11:13:42 AM EST

Lightening Rod (none / 0)

While I think that the point is well talking I must say that being a lightning rod isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, our Commander in Chief is about as big a lightning rod as one can have.

The question is if you have a team in place that is aggressive enough to follow through hard when the cameras get pointed in your direction.

Right now the Party is being pretty much ignored. Maybe a little lightning will brighten up the place.

Editor
Ohio 2nd Blog

by ignatzmouse on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 04:37:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No to Dean (none / 0)

I'm not pursuaded. When was the last time you remember a big right-wing attack on a DNC chair? Why would anyone care if there was one? Who in the broader public can be bothered to remember that the Dems have a national committee, let alone that it has a Chair? The guy doesn't have to stand for a general election. Remember last week when we noticed that new RNC Chair Ken Mehlman is likely a closeted gay man? Remember how, no matter how bitter and partisan you are, you didn't care?

And sure, they may criticize the party by criticizing its Chair, but if they want to do that, appeasement won't stop them. As Mel Gilles said recently, the people who run the Republican Party are a bit like abusive fathers. We can try to please them all we want. We can put Lee Atwater in if we want; they'll attack even him for being liberal and out of the mainstream.

I'll stand up for Dean, because I know he'll stand up for our party.

by conchis on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 07:09:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No to Dean (none / 0)

Couldn't agree more. Spending all our time worrying about enraging the enraged Republicans is a strategy for instant failure. They won't have anything nice to say about whoever we pick.

The person we do want to pick is someone who can motivate and speak clearly to our base and to our populist values. And, after watching the entire pre and post-election debaucle, I can't think of anyone who is clearer, more articulate, or stronger than Dean.

The "mainstream" democratic establishment has completely lost credibility. Right now, our only winning strategy is to yell our message as vociferously and stridently as the Republicans; appeasement of the forces of evil will never work.

by giveusair on Thu Dec 02, 2004 at 03:59:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Personal Contact with DNC Members in Your Area (none / 0)

The most authoritative answer I've gotten on this so far comes from the leader of my local Democracy For America group: The time to act will probably be in a few weeks. Use personal contact with DNC members in your area. Some DNC members have use for political support from within the party, so right now is a fine time to insert yourself into the workings of your local Dem Party. If your state works the way mine does, Assembly District Dem Committees are about to elect their new state delegates -- a group of 50-150 members sends 12 delegates to the state -- and you can probably become a member at this point jut by ponying up your $14. I'd say that's $14 and a winter morning well spent. To get exact dates, meeting places, and membership deadlines for your assembly district contact your state Dem Party Executive Director or just google "X democratic committee" where X is your state.

by conchis on Thu Dec 02, 2004 at 12:59:09 AM EST

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