Howard Dean Perfect To Revive Dems' Spirit

Ed Garvey

It was fun watching Howard Dean, the newly elected Democratic National Committee chair, debate on C-SPAN with neocon Richard Perle. Had it been a boxing match, the referee would have called a TKO early in the fight, but instead it went on as the students and faculty members in Oregon were thrilled at the performance of the Democratic Party spokesman articulating ideas instead of arguing that Democrats are better managers.

It was a reminder that there once was a Democratic Party that stood for something, before the Democratic Leadership Council convinced Democrats to feed from the same trough as Republicans if they hoped to win. Because Howard Dean is a former presidential candidate who was right on the Bush invasion of Iraq and had the guts to say so, he has the stature to make people listen. He is, as Paul Krugman described, a "fighting moderate."

What is that? A moderate Democrat who is willing to take stands on issues affecting real people. The people who are unwelcome in the lobbyists' Legislature, who fight Wal-Mart sprawl, slaughterhouses in their downtown, ethanol factories near where people live, and factory farms. People who think the Public Service Commission ought to fight for the ratepayers instead of the utilities. Former Democrats who tired of watching incumbent Democrats act just like Republicans because they need the campaign contributions so they can enact social policy while going along with corporate economic policy. Those who watch Jim Doyle in sadness play the old game of "forget the progressives, they won't have a choice in 2006."

When Democrats turned to the same funding sources as Republicans, they had to craft an easy rationale, and it was, "I'm a liberal on social issues but a conservative on economic issues."

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0222-29.htm

exhilarating to see Dr. Dean squish Perle between his thumb and forefinger, like a little bug.

namely those who were a little quick on the draw, however well- ntentioned*, to criticize them.

Common dreams is a terrific progressive website. I believe Governor Dean penned a couple of articles at that site as well.

Take it with a grain, but keep in mind commondreams is a good place to visit and they post quality writers and articles.

Amen.