Dean says not to let president set our agenda...Harvard yesterday.

http://www.thecrimson.com/today/article504433.html

SNIP..."Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean called rumors of his candidacy for chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) “premature,” but did not rule out running for president in 2008 during an appearance in the Kirkland House JCR Wednseday afternoon..."

SNIP....."Governor Dean, who rose to national fame last year as the early frontrunner prominence the Democratic primary, was on campus to speak at a study group at the Institute of Politics (IOP) led by Fellow Jeff Amestoy, the former Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court appointed by Dean. Before the study group, Dean took questions from members of the Harvard College Democrats and other students in Kirkland...."

SNIP..."Admitting that he had a “tough decision to make,” Dean said becoming DNC Chairman could prevent him from another possible attempt at the presidency in 2008. I haven’t decided to , and it also means that I can’t run in 2008 for President, Dean said."

SNIP...."Dean said the Democrats must present voters with a platform clearly different from that of the Republicans.

“If we let the President set the agenda, we are going to continue to lose,” he said. “We have to set our own agenda.”..."

NOT be DNC chair. In that chair he will be tied down and strangled by the party hacks responsible for the current condition of the Dem party. If he is to remain an independent voice in Dem politics he needs to remain independent all the way. that way he can speak freely regarding upcoming elections and candidates, and yes, be a candidate if he so chooses.

Never give money directly to the DNC. Always donate to local dems thru their local organization. The DNC is not our friend.

Msongs
Riverside CA

dean obama 2008
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

I have a feeling this will not be easy. I am very mixed on this.
I agree with you. We donate to DFA and candidates for now, until the party starts listening again.

win or lose he set the aggenda during the primaries. Kerry had to take steal his stump speech.
I would like him to run again, but as DNC chair he could smooth the way for the people and the policies he thinks should dominate the democratic party. I have no doubt he would bring much needed reform to the primary system.

I would prefer he keep on working with DFA, affiliate our base with other progressive groups, and keep working for a 2008 run.

Would he win? Unknown. Would he get his issues out? Oh, yes.

He has a base, and there are others who would have a part in it as well.

I will admit that I am selfish. I want Dean for President and I do not want the DLC to get their hooks in him. I want our party to do a better job but I believe Dean serves the party best on the outside. We can start doing the work we need TODAY, we have a head start on all other candidates, including Hillary (I like Hillary but her candidacy would be a disaster....49 state loser). Lets learn from our mistakes the first time and make Howard a better candidate. Last week was a disaster, but we can make up for it by giving America a president they can be proud of and that is going to fight for the least among us.

- A most important message. Will Democrats listen this time?

I don't think they will listen at all. They will probably keep setting our agendas just like before.

in 2008..bless his heart..it was suppose to be Kerry Right Now!

I can't believe there are so many willfully ignorant people in the USA!??? I'm still having trouble wrapping my brain around that one.

There was a lovely woman in the co-op today who doesn't go online ..but thinks there is no way bush got all those votes.

It's not just DUers who are suspicious of treasonous acts from the bushco.

He did not release it. I am wondering what is going on with it being pushed so hard. :shrug:

I've been out of the loop for a few days due to tweaking my back(trying to lift something very heavy the wrong way)..wasn't able to sit at my computer.

What did DNC "release" via Steve Grossman?

Steve Grossman left the campaign just before WI and went to Kerry.
It made a lot of us furious. He apparently says he is still friends with Dean after apologizing, but why would he release this?
He is not with DFA at all.

Laura Gross said this was premature.

Some of us wondered if it were to force Dean's hand or something. Not sure.
:shrug:

I think that we really need this.

http://www.radioleft.us/petitions/deanfordnc/signed.php3/#invite

I think that Dean for DNC would be a disaster to what we stood for in the primaries and what we still stand for.

stand for.. as a strong Kerry supporter?

Not sure I understand your statement. What do you stand for that is different than what I stand for?

.

Without guessing as to the logistic undercurrents of the situation, I think that Dean is an iconoclast, who listens to new ideas, and has the energy to lead and get things done.

He's also not one of the D.C. business as usual crowd.