Dean prepares to step down.

Dean Prepares To Step Down As DNC Chair

Not surprised, especially since the 50 State staffers are being laid off at the end of the month.

He had recently said he would only stay on if Obama asked him to do so.

I saw 3 articles today.

They could have least have said thank you.

It will be good to see him out of there and doing something else.

Laying off the staffers has begun.

Claire was relentless in her support during the campaign and she knows about life in the red states.

Wait a minute! What about her Senate seat??? We can't lose her from the Senate! Ok, I've changed my mind - "No" on Claire leaving the Senate.

I just hate to hear of Dean going anywhere, ya know? Although, he is probably a bit fatigued of always being first in line during the shitstorms - LOL.

I think I will be glad he is out of there.

We stopped our donations last week when we heard about Rahm's appointment.

I nearly fell outta my chair!

Bill Freaking Bennett was much more gracious to Dean than Carville was that night.
Bennett said nice things about Dean and Carville STILL could not spit out anything decent.

I think all the right people know, I know that Obama knows and you know that Dean would be the last person to claim personal credit.
Dean just wants the strategy continued and so far, I think it will be. I mean, it worked!

What donations did you stop on Rahm's appt? To which agency? I'm still doing automatic monthly support to the DNC & DFA and will continue for now.

On the Rahm thing....

I hated Rahm being over DCCC! I thought his influence absolutely killed us in elections (always going for the DLC pick) - it was like the antidote to the 50 State Strategy. And I intensely disliked his personal opposition to Dean.

HOWEVER.....

I actually think his appt to Chief of Staff plays to his strengths - AND it has the benefit of removing him from picking our political candidates in the future.
Not to mention getting him out of our administrative functions of legislative business.

Rahm IS a partisan, and I'm of the opinion that is a GOOD thing in a Chief of Staff.
He is also a very strong personality (absolutely necessary in that job), and he is 100% supportive and loyal to Obama.

I know Rahm sticks in the craw a bit, but just think about it Mad, these things really are his forte and we're getting him away from influencing who our candidates are.

I am cautiously optimistic about Van Hollen taking over DCCC, and getting Rahm out of the Dem caucus is a very good thing too.

Now, if we could only get Schumer away from the SCCC - but here's hope!:

http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/saturday/nation/ny-usschu085917431nov08,0,3405375.story

except for a brief speaking out at Open Left

Party leaders have not mentioned his name.

Dean has proven himself, and they all know it - whether they can admit it or not.
The important thing is that his policies be continued, we'll see how that turns out.

On the Rahm thing - can you see how it's a good thing to get him out of the DCCC & the legislative branch?

As long as he was still in charge of picking our congressional candidates AND running the Dem caucus, we were screwed - Dean or no Dean.

I think at the bare minimum, it was GREAT to get him outta there. Does that give you any hope?

I want you to have hope, Mad :pals:

I appreciate that.

As to donations, I meant we saw the lay of the land as soon as the election was over. We stopped our donations to the DNC because we had donated to support the 50 state plan.

And believe me, these folks tend to stay around in politics, getting picked for new jobs & positions.

I'm committed to staying w/the DNC until I see something I REALLY don't like.
They need all of us Mad, in the good times and the lean times. Especially us, the fiercely loyal.
I think Howard would hate to hear of his supporters leaving the cause now.

I hate to see you withdraw your support, these are good times for us and your own state just turned blue.
I'm marooned in a hopelessly Red State and about all I can do is help out Dems in other states and at the federal level.

Dems all over need other good Dems like you.

I will talk more about it later. It has to do with going back to the old ways, and people here are still not seeing that the party just closed itself up again.

More later.

Not about his leaving as chair, I expected that.

Besides, Obama's people have been running the day-to-day operations at the DNC since Obama became the presumptive nominee in June.

Howard Dean should have been more visible like his predecessor. He definately had the right idea. They should be continuing operations and keeping volunteers involved. So Obama is going to be top down, huh. How disappointing.

Bill Clinton making calls on his behalf, Obama supporting his staying.

There is no time for any of them to even give Dean credit for the starting to rebuild the party, now it is all their idea..

I just feel odd.

The more I've learned about him, the more I respect and admire him. His efforts were an essential part of our 2008 victories.

A role in the Administration or put out to the talk show pasture?

I doubt they will welcome him into the administration.

I may not have agreed with him on some issues, but his 50 state strategy was perfect and needs to continue.

and other stations. It's been mentioned for Sec of HHS>\

updating my list. Bye now.

I hated to think he wasn't being leveraged in some capacity.

Dean started the 50 State Strategy in 2005. Now they are leaving him out of the election picture.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96810759

"A Changing Map

Obama's coalition of support goes well beyond the African-American community. He is the first Democrat since Jimmy Carter to win a majority of the popular vote, a vindication of his "50-state strategy" that even some in his own party once viewed as quixotic. By the end of Tuesday, broad swaths of the American political map that had been solid red in recent elections had undergone a dramatic transformation."

Yes, it was viewed as quixotic, but that is a quick rewrite. I have read two other articles today accrediting the strategy to the wrong person.

But that's just politics...to the victor etc.

Oh, God help us, I don't like this at all. Howard Dean is the reason for the totally rebuilt Democratic Party, across the whole Nation, with responsive, paid staff, organization, campaigns across the country (has anyone forgotten that as recently as John Kerry, 2004, they were still doing that shitty old "D"LC EIGHTEEN-State "strategery"?), supporting progressive/liberal candidates, with the huge database and internet fundraising (this was DEAN'S invention, 2004 Presidential bid), populist orientation of the Party again, saving it from the "Clinton consultant forum" crowd, and making it popular and addressing the issues of the people, again. I don't like this at all, and I know that they will steal all the credit from Dean, starting immediately. I only hope Dean will still somehow have influence. God help the Democratic Party of Roosevelt and Kennedy; I think this may be another Clinton/1994/give-to-Republicans-and-lobbyists again.

"There was just such a huge difference between Obama and Hillary Clinton, and anyone who does not support Obama is a racist," how was that again? Please don't let it go back to being a closed corporate operation again. Thank you, with great appreciation, Howard Dean. Please stay on.

Thanks Dean.

he said he'd consider staying. big difference. he's made it crystal clear that he. is. not. interested. in. it. And you know why. Because there is no independence under a dem WH. That job in that context is not Howard's cup of tea.

I wish Doctor Dean would stay on.

Is she a disappointment! I've been calling her a DINO on this site for several months now.

Although I hope Missouri replaces Sen Kit Bond with a real Dem in the 2010 Elections, I'll vote anyone more progressive will run against her when she's up for re-election.

Great Job Howard. If Obama is wise he will listen to you council for many years to come.