Was Howard Dean behind a Daring Art Theft?

Last August, Edvard Munch’s famous masterpiece, “The Scream,” was stolen again. Armed gunmen took the painting from the Oslo Munch Museum in Norway. Saturday, the Democratic National Committee will elect former Governor Howard Dean as the Chairman of the DNC. Are these events connected?

Sometimes, reality is its own parody. As the satirical website ScrappleFace.com reported this week, “Faced with the fact that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is the only person still seeking the chairmanship of the Democrat National Committee (DNC), the nine-member panel of elected officers announced today that it had posted the job on CareerBuilder.com, and would consider applicants from outside the party....

“Other party leaders privately said that the ‘working with a bunch of monkeys’ ad for CareerBuilder, which ran during the Super Bowl, ‘sparked some real soul searching at the DNC.’”

Were the Deaniacs looking ahead to this Saturday? Did they commission the theft to acquire the new symbol of the Democrats? Does the new image justify the new slogan, “YEAAAAGHH”?

In theory, parties exist to win elections, but that breaks down in practice. The first case study I read in college (when ice covered the earth) was about the Mississippi Republican Party in the 50s. For decades, they’d lost all statewide races. When a group of young Turks decided to compete with intent to win, the first opponent they had to defeat was the Old Guard of their own party.

Planning for defeat seems counterintuitive for a political party. Why would this happen?

Parties offer more potential gains than just winning elections. Local, state and federal laws guarantee second place parties a number of appointments to public boards and positions. Leaders of such a party have certain power and patronage even if they always lose the next election. I call this “the lesser lion’s share.”

This phenomenon explains the election of Howard Dean as DNC Chair. It also explains the Republican nominations of Barry Goldwater and Bob Dole, and the Democratic ones of George McGovern and Michael Dukakis, as hopeless candidates for President.

Bob Dole is the exception to the general pattern in that list of doomed candidates. His was not a staunchly ideological choice. Instead, he labored long and hard in the vineyards of his party, and built up chits in all parts of the nation. When he cashed those chits, he became an unstoppable nominee. However, that meant nothing in the general election, which he lost overwhelmingly.

The other three nominees were all strong ideologues. Each represented the crest of a wave of “true believers,” who were convinced that the nation and the world would be vastly improved if only their candidate were elected President. But beliefs like that go hand-in-hand with an aggressive neglect of the question of electibility. As a rule, the stronger the belief that a candidate OUGHT to win, the less the examination of whether the candidate CAN win.

Howard Dean is one of the most spectacular examples of the phrase applied to the very worst of candidates, that he “crashed and burned.” From a position of having $50 million raised and leading most polls for the Democratic nomination before Iowa, Dean ran through his money and lost ignominiously in the first two primaries, and was then dead as a candidate in short order.

Is this what the Democrats need? A proven loser to lead them into the 2006 midterm elections, followed by the 2008 presidential election?

Though either of the current major parties can occasionally grow blinders and nominate a candidate who cannot win, generally they learn from their lessons and don’t repeat the same mistake until a few national elections have passed. There are exceptions. The Democrats nominated Stevenson again, after he had been soundly trounced by Eisenhower. And the Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan not twice, but three times.

What’s the history of the Democrats leading up to Dean? They lost the Presidency twice, in 2000 and 2004, they lost the midterm election in 2002. An indication of whether Dean is another failed leader, urging the Democratic lemmings to follow him over a cliff, will come in the midterm election of 2006.

I’ve started handicapping that election, now. The Republicans will gain in both the House and the Senate. The Democrats will stick with Dean despite his bad results, just as they stuck with Terry McAuliffe in his series of national losses.

Will the Democrats ever learn? Apparently not. Or at least, not before the next two national losses.

About the Author: John Armor is a First Amendment attorney and author who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu

At your request, m'friend. Please note that these are the lyrics as usually performed, and that Beethoven adapted Schiller's poem (not Goethe's...I'm an idiot...grr!) somewhat: Im Deutsch?
=====
O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere
anstimmen und freudenvollere.
Freude!

Freude, schöner Götterfunken
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!

Deine Zauber binden wieder
Was die Mode streng geteilt;
Alle Menschen werden Brüder,

(Schiller's original:
Was der Mode Schwert geteilt;
Bettler werden Fürstenbrüder,)
Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.

Wem der große Wurf gelungen,
Eines Freundes Freund zu sein; Wer ein holdes Weib errungen,
Mische seinen Jubel ein!

Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele
Sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!
Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle
Weinend sich aus diesem Bund!

Freude trinken alle Wesen
An den Brüsten der Natur;
Alle Guten, alle Bösen
Folgen ihrer Rosenspur.

Küsse gab sie uns und Reben,
Einen Freund, geprüft im Tod;
Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben,
und der Cherub steht vor Gott.

Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen
Durch des Himmels prächt'gen Plan,
Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn,
Freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen.

Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt
Muß ein lieber Vater wohnen.

Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such' ihn über'm Sternenzelt!
Über Sternen muß er wohnen.

Final section repeats the words:
Freude, schöner Götterfunken
Tochter aus Elysium
Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!

A reasonable translation of which is (don't kick me, ok?)

Oh friends, not these tones!
Let us rather raise our voices together
In more pleasant and joyful ones.
Joy!

Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
With fiery rapture, goddess,
We approach thy shrine.

Thy magic reunites
That which stern custom has parted;
All people become brothers

[(Schiller's original:
What custom's sword has parted;
Beggars become princes' brothers)]
Where thy gentle wing is spread.

Let the man who has had the great fortune
To be the friend of a friend,
And the man who has won a noble woman,
Let him join in our chorus of jubilation!

Yes, even if he holds but one soul
As his own in all the world!
But let the man who knows nothing of this
Steal away weeping from our gathering.

All the world's creatures drink
From the breasts of nature;
Both the good and the evil
Follow her trail of roses.

She gave us kisses and wine
And a friend loyal unto death;
Pleasure was granted to the serpent,
And the cherub stands before God.

Joyous, as his suns speed
Through the glorious order of Heaven,
Hasten, brothers, on your way,
Joyful as a hero to victory.

Be embraced, ye millions!
With this kiss for all the world!
Brothers, beyond the stars
Surely there dwells a loving Father.

Do you kneel before him, oh millions?
Do you sense the Creator's presence?
Seek him beyond the stars!
He must dwell beyond the stars.

Final section repeats the words:

Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
Be embraced, ye millions!
With this kiss for all the world!

Let us rather raise our voices together
In more pleasant and joyful ones.
Joy!

Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
With fiery rapture, goddess,
We approach thy shrine.

=====

John, I may have messed up the spacing; if so, apols. But that's ol' Freddy Schiller with Beethoven's modifications to the poem, as best I know (or can find -- Jetzt diese Tage, Ich habe keine Deutsche... es ist zu traurig.)

Naturally, I'll be happy to defer to any of our colleagues here who can speak and write that language properly (rueful g!)

Thank you, Congressman Billybob! :^)
Was Howard Dean behind a Daring Art Theft?
Excerpt:
Is this what the Democrats need? A proven loser to lead them into the 2006 midterm elections, followed by the 2008 presidential election?
Though either of the current major parties can occasionally grow blinders and nominate a candidate who cannot win, generally they learn from their lessons and don’t repeat the same mistake until a few national elections have passed. There are exceptions. The Democrats nominated Stevenson again, after he had been soundly trounced by Eisenhower. And the Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan not twice, but three times.
What’s the history of the Democrats leading up to Dean? They lost the Presidency twice, in 2000 and 2004, they lost the midterm election in 2002. An indication of whether Dean is another failed leader, urging the Democratic lemmings to follow him over a cliff, will come in the midterm election of 2006.
I’ve started handicapping that election, now. The Republicans will gain in both the House and the Senate. The Democrats will stick with Dean despite his bad results, just as they stuck with Terry McAuliffe in his series of national losses.
Will the Democrats ever learn? Apparently not. Or at least, not before the next two national losses.

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

Do you know the words to the "Ode to Joy"?

BARITONE

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne,
sondern lasst uns angenehmere
anstimmen, und freundenvollere.

AN DIE FREUDE - FREDERICH SCHILLER

BARITONE, QUARTETT UN KEHRREIM

Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Deine Zauber binden wieder,
was die Mode streng geteilt:
alle Menschen werden Brüder,
wo dein snafter Flügel weilt.

Wem der grosse Wurf gelungen,
eines Freundes Freund zu sein,
wer ein holdes Weib errungen,
mische seinen Jubel ein!
Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele
sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!
Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle
weinend sich aus diesem Bund!

Freude trinken alle Wesen
an den Brüsten der Natur,
alle Guten, alle Bösen
folgen ihrer Rosenspur.
Küsse gab sie uns und Reben,
einen Freund, geprüft im Tod;
Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben,
und der Cherub steht vor Gott.

TENOR ALLEINFLUG UND KEHRREIM

Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen
durch des Himmels prächt'gen Plan,
laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn,
freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen!

KEHRREIM

Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, überm Sternenzelt
muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.

Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such ihn überm Sternenzelt!
Über Sternen muss er wohnen.

Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt!
Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such ihn überm Sternenzelt!
Brüder, überm Sternenzelt
muss ein lieber Vater wohnen!

Freude, Tochter aus Elysium,
deine Zauber binden wieder,
was die Mode streng geteilt!
Alle Menschen werden Brüder,
wo dein sanfter Flügel Weilt.

Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, überm Sternenzelt
muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.

Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Freude, schöner Götterfunken!

»DIE ENDE«

TOTALLY TRANSLATED TO ENGLISH

BARITONE

Oh friends, not these tones!
Let us raise our voices in more
pleasing and more joyful sounds!

ODE TO JOY (Friedrich Schiller)

BARITONE, QUARTET, AND CHORUS

Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
We enter fire imbibed,
Heavenly, thy sanctuary.

Thy magic reunites those
Whom stern custom has parted;
All men will become brothers
Under thy gentle wing.

May he who has had the fortune
To gain a true friend
And he who has won a noble wife
Join in our jubilation!

Yes, even if he calls but one soul
His own in all the world.
But he who has failed in this
Must steal away alone and in tears.

All the world's creatures
Draw joy from nature's breast;
Both the good and the evil
Follow her rose-strewn path.

She gave us kisses and wine
And a friend loyal unto death;
She gave lust for life to the lowliest,
And the Cherub stands before God.

TENOR SOLO AND CHORUS

Joyously, as his suns speed
Through Heaven's glorious order,
Hasten, Brothers, on your way,
Exulting as a knight in victory.

CHORUS

Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
We enter fire imbibed,
Heavenly, thy sanctuary.