"Howard Dean: Good Soldier" The New Republic.

http://www.tnr.com/blog/dnc?pid=1838

HOWARD DEAN, GOOD SOLDIER: Nothing frustrates political reporters at a convention like comity and unity. And that, surely, is the reason so many cameramen and reporters just mobbed Howard Dean outside the Westin Hotel ballroom, where he'd just delivered a brief speech to the California state delegation. If anybody was going to start griping about the lameness of the Democratic Party or John Kerry, it would surely be Dean--who spent most of his campaign doing precisely that. And if Dean was indeed going to make such a statement, this seemed like the perfect opportunity, since it was in another speech before California Democrats, back in 2003, that Dean's maverick campaign first made national headlines.

But it was not to be. Dean's stump speech was unequivocal in its support for the party and its ticket: "We need to deliver for John Kerry and John Edwards because delivering for John Kerry and John Edwards is delivering for our people." Afterwards, when reporters threw questions at him, he repeatedly refused to take the bait--talking up the Kerry campaign with a discipline that DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe could have scripted...."

SNIP..." Although many Dean critics once feared that he would bolt the party if he didn't win the nomination himself, he has been a model of party discipline, using his popularity among grassroots Democrats to promote down-ticket Democrats while protecting Kerry's left flank by going after Nader. Is Dean playing nice in order to angle for a cabinet post or some other position of influence, as some have speculated? Or does he simply believe, as he told Nader during a recent debate, that "when the house is on fire, it's not the time to fix the furniture"? Time will tell. For now, though, those hoping for a rupture in the Democratic coalition must apparently look elsewhere....". END SNIP

</sarcasm>

:eyes:

They were ALL going to come together no matter what, no matter who. They pulled this same shit about Kucinich, claiming he'd bolt the party. That is and always was utter horseshit.

This election is bigger than any ego, Kerry's, Dean's, mine, ANY of us.

:eyes: WE "deanies" won't.

We made the choice to work with DFA and its candidates. I don't believe Dean will do 3rd party, but I see some powerful stuff going on with all the various groups meeting this week and forming coalitions.

Many of us feel that the Will Marshall types are going to control the agenda, and it worries us. There are several groups meeting this week indicating new directons.

Here is one:
www.ourfuture.org

Follow the events link and see the speakers. Progressive is an elusive word, but most of these folks are wanting change in direction from the way we appear to be going.

Here is another group:
http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0720-06.htm
SNIP..."These groups - and others - will meet on Thursday, July 29, for an event titled: "Building the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party." It will be held at Roxbury Community College. This 'progressive convention' will feature talks and panel discussions with speakers representing the diversity of our movement. This includes individuals such as: Gov. Howard Dean (D-Vermont); Cynthia Peters, Fund the Dream DNC Coalition; Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio); Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan); Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Illinois) (invited); Doris "Granny D" Haddock, Senatorial Candidate (D- New Hampshire); Reverend Jesse Jackson, Executive Director Rainbow/Push Coalition (invited); Dr. James Zogby, Founder and President of the Arab American Institute; Marianne Williamson, Global Renaissance (invited); Kevin Spidel, Progressive Vote; Boston Councilman Chuck Turner (District 7). Other names will be announced shortly.

PDA supporters and members will also meet with grassroots organizations from around the country in Washington, D.C. on August 14-15th, to draft plans for strengthening Democratic resolve in supporting universal, single-payer health care, fair trade, human rights, and an end to the occupation of Iraq....."END SNIP

Many of us believe that if we could know for sure about the American empire this would not be happening. Ultimately it will be a good thing for the party.

The more I think about it, I don't like that term. And, certain groups might end up a huge challenge to TPTB after November. Dean has said he will do what he has to do until then. I don't think 3rd party, but a challenge to the DLC types.

The leaders of that group are for the American empire, they just word it differently.

Even those I disagreed with but who battled honorably. Sorry it doesn't appeal to you. It does to me.

:hi:

"Ralph Nader has really discredited himself," Dean said, hitting him on an issue sure to resonate with lefty voters: the fact that some conservative anti-gay organizations are supporting his candidacy, presumably to siphon votes away from Kerry. "I don't think that any of us would have accepted right wing, anti-gay support."

:toast: To my man Dean!

:hi:

;)

support"..it's like why would we? Or why would they even be offering? And I don't buy nader's .."repukes are human too" bit!

PROPS To Dean I'm so proud of him! Like it says in my sig..I, as well as Dean, don't really feel like we lost! And this has been quite a transition but now I'm behind Kerry and Edwards and soon more of our Country will be.

:toast:

Here's to takin' back our country!!!!!

like he's finished as a commander. I don't believe it for a second. He will be either SG or SecHHS or DNC chair next year. He will be one of the leaders of the party as we reclaim the country over the next generation.

Howard Dean Whatever My Last Name will be is going to have SO much to live up to.

Future DNC Chair?


PS, I say that because I think he'd be good for the job, not because I think he has some ulterior motive.