How would Dean assess Presidential contenders if DNC Chair?

My take...

Senators

New York - Hillary Clinton
She is too much of a rival and he would probably not want her as candidate.

Massachusetts - John Kerry
Having been recently beaten and with rumors that Kerry supports Vilsack, he would not want him to be the candidate.

North Carolina - John Edwards
Having just lost in the primary and seeing Edwards as too centrist, he would not want him as candidate.

Indiana - Evan Bayh
Still stinging from Iowa loss last primary season, he would undermine his candidacy.

Wisconsin - Russ Feingold
Although Russ will probably not run in 2008, Dean might want him to.

Delaware - Joe Biden
Would be considered too moderate to be considered a candidate

Tennessee - Howard Ford
Possibly would back him, although Ford backed Kerry in primary

Connecticut - Joe Lieberman
Would love to undermine any attempt by this guy to run again

Vermont - Patrick Leahy
Not sure if he would want him to run

Illinois - Barack Obama
Might want to run him, although Obama needs more time

Governors
New Mexico - Bill Richardson
A little too moderate

Iowa - Tom Vilsack
Darth Vader

Virginia - Mark Warner
Maybe

Vermont - Howard Dean
Hmmmm...

Illinois - Rod Blagojevich
Who?

Arizona - Janet Napolitano
Not...

Pennsylvania - Ed Rendell
Too moderate

Reps
Ohio - Dennis Kucinich
Probably won't run, but if he does...who knows...

Illinois - Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Probably won't run

Other
Wesley Clark
Accused of being a Republican durng primary season

Seriously?

Would Dean go along with a "centrist", "moderate" candidate while it's under his watch?

He would want to knock off those that have made it known they want Vilsack or implied such a choice...that's my guess.

But they guy is a fiscal conservative and a centrist, and so are most of his supporters.

liberal" $2500 says I'm his base.

Thanks.

I call myself moderate because the bible advocates moderation in all things. I accomplish that pretty well.

I have noticed that when he speaks out, he is not speaking in a partisan manner. He spares no one.

I think the fact that he has standards, applies them, listens, but doesn't pander.....has a lot to do with why folks supported him.

He has said the DFA will support progressive thinking candidates of other parties as well at times. He made that clear day one. We raised over 60,000 dollars for Daschle overnight. We did the same for other candidates he asked donations for. When special requests go out we respond by giving or not giving....it is a personal decision.

I really think when you label him, you label all of us who are members of DFA. He made a statement at Yale that about half of his supporters were not Democrats to begin with. I believe that, as we have that here in our area.

BTW, he carries no grudges. He just speaks his mind, perhaps more clearly than some would like. It is not offensive to me, because I have a deep anger inside over this war, over the financial mess our country is in, and over the Medicare bill...also the horrible school bill. I think it is time someone spoke out.

wants to see Dems regain power and wants to contribute whatever skills he has, as well as tapping into the skills of others. I think ALL the primary candidates came away respectful of each other and did their best to defeat Bush, except Lieberman, who I think wasn't as helpful as he could have been during the last months of the campaign.

The best way to move forward is for all Dems to come to grips with the values they DO share, which are considerable, and stop attacking each other to amuse the media who is behind the fostering of the stereotypes being used for these attacks.

In common ground you find the strength to overcome the areas of more diverse opinion that we hold dear but that the GOP uses to create weakness.

That's how they build audience these days, unfortunately. They don't even bother to source quotes now. Most of the "news" consists of crap gossip.

I also don't see why Edwards would be too centrist and Harold Ford isn't.
I also think if Dean wants to run for president in 2008, he shouldn't take the head of DNC position.

Does anyone know if a candidate besides Bob Dole has gone from party head to presidential nominee in a single four year cycle?

Is this a joke thread? ;-)

Actually I'm not sure leahy wants to run, but after skimming through various lists on the net, his name popped up.

Leahy was one of his first and most ardent supporters, both in Vermont and then during Dean's primary run.

I think Howard Dean would do much toward healing the party from the inside out. My opinion of course.

I corrected the title. Thanks.

I'll refer you to his fiscal conservatism and his A+ rating from the NRA.

I'm thinking that he is perceived as more to the left than his actual record...no?

me I was not. I want him to be moderate fiscally, and more to the left where social issues are concerned. The media has made him into a loony leftist, much as some here on DU like to characterize his supporters. I just got back from church a little while ago (we're checking out the Lutherans after leaving the Catholic church after 34 years) and am just about to make some venison round steak. I hope that answers your question.

the OP thinks, like so many others here that if we just understood how much of a centrist he is we would reject him. They are hopelessly trapped in their left-right dichotomy.
Now here you are... a moderate and you support him. I am a liberal and I support him too. It's enough to make their heads explode.

only go and look at the wide range of voices there perhaps we could end this Rovian rumor.

may I refer you to his opposition to the war, hiw rejection of NCLB, his almost universal healthcare, his sucess with lowering child abuse and unemployment and his support for Gay unions in VT.

works best in my opinion. :hi:

and that is funny as hell.

Q. Should the democraic party go right or left?

A. Both, but what is wrong with having convictions along the way? We remember convictions don't we.. those things we are not willing to trade for votes. :hi:

are, blowing their minds again.

:yourock:

primaries when you were a mod.

I've always wondered. But I don't want to hash it out here. Just know that I wondered about it all the time!

whatever differences we have had are forgotten on my part. Hope we don't have them again.

:yourock: too

:hi:

Just popped in to see if the dean channel is still up and running. So now dean is a MODERATE from the Democratic wing of the Democratic party (P. Wellstone original quote BTW).

He's moderate on economic issues (like the DLC) and guns of all things. Can never have to many guns, I guess. I'm told, he was a member of the DLC (can't find that from other than DU). But deaniacs hate the DLC because they soften on economic issues, like uhh, dean.

Does the DLC have positions on social issues? I can't find them. Clinton stood firm on choice and fought for gays in the military. DOMA is kind of a black eye. Kerry voted against DOMA however. I thought John Kerry, on choice voted and spoke pretty consistently. Kerry supports civil unions, just like dean.

I asked on another thread. But never a response. What are these core issues that separates dean? Are the social issues the issues that matter? If so, what was wrong with Kerry?

stick around and learn, everyone does sooner or later.

only condecension. Once again, fits the mold.

only condecension.

Is there a question you want answered Forkboy?

maybe he hasn't read the new version.

Give me fricken break.

If you don't love dean, you're freeper or you go back and change your posts.

there weren't any questions before your edit. Only statements.

If I didn't have questions, why was the reply that I would learn.

Man you need a life.

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All I said was look at the time of the posting and the edit, they were the same minute. The edit was posted before any replies.

Lets see if this gets deleted.

He's a raging liberal to some and a centrist moderate to others. Why is that?

;-)

:shrug: Most would think it's a good thing that he appeals to a wide range. (my Libertarian husband and cousin included, along with a few of my husbands Republican coworkers). Yet, you do not. Why is that?

half democrats and another quarter liberal third party (Green, New Party, socialists) members.

To understand one only has to attend a Wellstone training. They talk about authenticity, convictions, honesty, the importance of REAL grassroots support, how Paul was supported by republicans who DISAGREED WITH HIM... it is all so clear to me.

I just wonder what he would do with the potential candidates running and whether he would impede their candidacy based on past statements and experiences with those candidates.

I have to assume that the list you are most concerned about is a little shorter than the one you posted.

C'mon...out with it! What's on your mind?

I'd support Dean for the DNC chair, but have a feeling a couple things might derail his tenure:

1. I think he might have some problems backing someone he considers "too moderate", even though some see him as a "moderate".

2. If he does decide to back someone who is "moderate", would people who back him and think he is a "raging liberal" think he is a sell-out and thus turn off a lot of younger supporters that he is supposed to be able to mobilize.

I think he would be a good choice, but if we were to equate his leadership with being a leader of a band, would the band think they are heavy metal or new age?

The two criteria for candidates who obtain support from DFA are that the candidate should be fiscally responsible and socially sane. By the latter I mean, basically, that the candidate should respect the separation of church and state.

I do get the feeling, from what I've read, that Dean favors candidates who are not "yes" men or women, candidates who have somewhat of an independent streak and are able to get things done.

But these candidates should have support of the people where they live, first and foremost. The "you have the power" slogan only meant exactly that.

So in effect, it's really not up to Dean. "We, the People..." etc.

Punk rock.

Dean's views really can't be pigeonholed. He is, like I am, a fiscal moderate and a social progressive.

range, since we have illustrated this to be the case?

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fish

You think these millionaires are going to support policies that help ordinary Americans? Hell, no.

We could be the chord that each side will need to strike. This Country is split 51%clueless and 49% heartbroken.If we could give the powerless left(us) and the, soon to find out, lower middle class (80% Republican Party) a voice. We can move both sides to the table. Can you see it?

I do not want any part of a candidate that either the RNC OR the DLC LIKES.

What I want is a candidate that both the DLC and the RNC AND the elite media HATE. THat is my candidate!

Except I think the DLC is going to fold and disappear when politicians find they don't need them to be elected anymore.

Not only can you read minds but you are a psychoanalyst too. You'd make a great "pundit".

You could be my first guest. Look into the crystal ball.

See DNC Charter, Article Five, Section Four . . .

http://a9.g.akamai.net/7/9/8082/v002/www.democrats.org/pdfs/charter.pdf

His job, which he won't be getting by the way, would be to simply do all he could to support whoever the 'people' chose in the primaries.

your other thread, before moving on? :shrug:

you're being a bit too simplistic in your labels.

While the primaries really did get nasty, Dean is actually on pretty good terms with many of them. Take Bill Richardson for example. I don't think he endorsed anyone in the primaries but Richardson earlier supported Dean's bid for DNC chair. He may have backed off recently though, as might have Pelosi after being urged by Kerry to back Vilsack.

I also never recall any problems between Dean and Edwards. In fact, remember during the heat of the primaries, when it was really nasty between Dean and Kerry, Dean even said he preferred Edwards win the nomination.

I think the primaries are old hat by now. Most people forgave and moved on. I doubt him and Clark have any problems either at this point. I also think Dean campaigned with Kucinich. I saw a great pic with the two the other day.

The only candidate in the primaries I'm sure Dean dislikes is Lieberman, and in this case I can't blame him. Lieberman was an ass hole during the primaries....and he's never let up on this "Dean is a far left liberal" thing. He recently openly said that Dean wouldn't be good for DNC chair.

As for Leahy, DFA contributed a good amount of money to his campaign. I have no reason to believe they're not on good terms...though I don't remember if Leahy endorsed anyone in the primaries. I doubt he did though because he probably knew the other three senate candidates well, as well as Dean who's from his state.

Ford probably won't run for president just yet. He'll likely run for senate in '06. I hope he wins. It'll be a tough race.

Biden won't matter in '08, because no northeaster is getting the nomination (that's unless the party is stupid and nominates Hillary).

perhaps mulitple choice or a final project? My personal favorite would be a Rubric.

While Dean might not go out of his way to support some of the listed choices, I strongly doubt that he would act to "undermine" any of them.

He did not agree with Kerry on all things, but he raised money for him and campaigned for him.

He worked to elect over 300 democratic candidates across the country. Nothing in the character of his actions even remotely suggests that he would engage in this sort of behavior.

Your thinking is mired in the past. It is true that we have had a history of eating our own. I have seen none of this from DFA.

I know the buttons. Just kickin' the tires too.

No.

This is meant to be about the candidates who are running...and what Dean might think about them...

...and what he might think or do with his hot-tempered kind of Scorpio personality and the misperceptions people have about him...

...is he liberal? is he moderate? ...

...does he want the Chair for reasons like cutting off potential candidates or does he want to help the Democratic Party become really the Democratic Party.

...and maybe what happens to the DFA if he's doing the DNC...

...and what the moon will be in in February will all this shit goes down.

or Donkey.:dem: There is so much to do t fix the party before 2008 , like getting a successful 2006 done. Gov. Dean has always been an equitable and gracious party-first man. Imagine the drubbing Kerry would have taken had he not pleaded with his own supporters to vote for him and stumped exhaustively for the guy. That is not the action of a petty and venal guy. It's the actions of a dedicated Democrat.

is all-important right now.

and can't run himself, so there.