Posted on 02/12/2005 11:21:44 PM PST by Grampa Dave
New DNC Head Dean Hopes to Rebuild Party
2 hours, 47 minutes ago
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - New national Democratic Chairman Howard Dean (news - web sites) promised Saturday to rebuild the party in the most conservative regions of the country, help develop state and local organizations and let congressional Democrats set the tone on policy.
Electing Dean on a voice vote during their winter meeting, Democrats put the party's leadership in the hands of the skilled fund-raiser and organizer whose sometimes caustic, blunt comments can lead to controversy. The physician now must contend with a state-by-state political map in which Republican red overwhelms Democratic blue.
"I'll pretty much be living in red states in the South and West for quite a while," Dean told reporters. "The way to get people not to be skeptical about you is to show up and say what you think."
The normally outspoken Dean appeared to be trying to shift his role from flamboyant presidential candidate to cautious party chairman.
"The proper place for the day-to-day battles is Congress," Dean said in response to a question about his opposition to the war in Iraq (news - web sites). "My views are well known, but most of the policy pronouncements will be coming from the leaders in Congress and not from me."
Dean has plenty of other chores to keep him busy.
President Bush (news - web sites) just won his second term. Republicans are firmly in control of the House and the Senate. And the GOP is gaining strength in conservative states in the South and West.
The former Vermont governor promised to learn how Democrats can communicate positions more effectively.
Dean says that no one is "pro-abortion," but "we are the party in favor of allowing women to make up their own minds about their health care."
And Democrats are not for "gay marriage," but "we are the party that has always believed in equal rights under the law for all people," he says.
Dean is determined to seize the moral high ground from Republicans, arguing Democratic positions on helping the poor and protecting children are consistent with religious values.
The new chairman sounded like a man in a hurry: "Republicans wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before regaining Congress. ... The American people cannot afford to wait 40 years for us to regain control in Washington and put the government back to work for Americans."
Dean has been criticizing Republicans all week and has promised to stay on the offensive, but GOP Chairman Ken Mehlman contacted Dean to congratulate him and then put out a statement describing Dean as "a strong leader for his party."
The kid-glove treatment is unlikely to last. Reminded Saturday that former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich had said Dean would be the perfect leader for Democrats if they have a "death wish," Dean smiled broadly and said: "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to prove Newt wrong."
On Saturday, Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) of Massachusetts gave the DNC another $225,000, donated by Kerry supporters, for grass-roots development. The 2004 presidential nominee gave $1 million last week.
As Dean takes on his new DNC duties, his brother Jim takes over the former governor's political action committee — Democracy for America.
Howard Dean replaces outgoing party chief Terry McAuliffe, who raised more money than Republicans in the last election cycle, developed a sophisticated voter file and e-mail list, and left the party in the black after the presidential election.
Democrats generally sounded an optimistic tone about Dean, hoping for the best from their new chairman who is attempting to show more restraint.
When Dean was asked about anonymous criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, he quickly brushed it aside, saying, "I'm not going to respond to blind quotes."
___
hehe!The kid-glove treatment is unlikely to last. Reminded Saturday that former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich had said Dean would be the perfect leader for Democrats if they have a "death wish," Dean smiled broadly and said: "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to prove Newt wrong."
"WHY DID RNC CHAIRMAN KEN MEHLMAN CALL THIS VICIOUS GEEK TO CONGRATULATE HIM??? HE HATES OUR GUTS!!!
"We need to be trashing this SOB every time he opens his mouth ... and every time he doesn't!!! "
Naa!
GW, Cheney, and the RNC must be very positive towards this Gift from God.
There is no need for them to trash him. Just give him a stage and a rope and then stand back to watch his performance.
"When did it become a good idea to take the biggest loser in the Democratic primary and make him the guy who is going to lead your party to victory? Not that I am complaining."
The appointment/selection of Howie to head the DNC is a prime example of the arrogance and lunacy of the rats. They are in a self destructive downward spiral, and this selection of Dean will speed up that downward spiral.
Adding to the responses from Lying Teddy, will be the whines from Boxer, Pelosi Galore and Crazy Reid.
Dean will probably wear out his welcome with America by the 2006 election.
Then, they will fire him, and Senator Hilldebea$t will install her hand puppet.
Dean will probably wear out his welcome with America by the 2006 election.
Then, they will fire him, and Senator Hilldebea$t will install her hand puppet.
At least the Hulk was basically a benevolent critter.
Dean is just insane and rabid.
It will be interesting to see him crash and burn.
I think that he will be fired after the 2006 elections.
His key role is to raise money.
He is in fairly tight with the lunatic lefties of the east, the west coast and of course the Follywood rats.
McAuliffe was their best fundraiser ever. Dean is going to stir the liberal pot and see which ideas float if you know what I mean.
The rabid rats like Dean haven't realized that their vile words come back to defeat them. This is just another sign of lunatics doing the same thing over and over when that makes them lose over and over.
Deannie the Whining Weiner
The Gays of the rat party are estatic about Metrosexual Dean!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1342235/posts
Rebel Dean inspires gays in Florida
Sun Sentinel ^ | February 13 2005 | Tania deLuzuriaga
Posted on 02/13/2005 6:37:17 AM PST by AmericanMade1776
With a rebel now heading the Democratic Party, Florida's gay Democrats vowed Saturday to be puppets of their party no longer and to bring social issues to the front of their party's concerns.
"I don't want to reach across the aisle; I want to win," said Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, who is openly gay. "Republicans used our community as a wedge in the [2004] election."
Sheehan was one of about 40 Democrats from across the state to attend the quarterly meeting of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual Caucus of the Florida Democratic Party in Orlando. Agreeing that a lack of organization hurt Democrats in November, they said unity will be vital if they are to overcome roadblocks to gay civil rights.
Thanks for the ping!
Put that together with the scream from #49. Think I'll do that!!!!!
2005 continues to be a great year for us.
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