Is Howard Dean right? "Dem leadership is 'old and creaky'"

[CousinIT]

He endorses Pete Buttigieg for DNC Chair...I think Ellison will get it. The real takeaway was (to me) that Democrats HAVE to SHOW UP - everywhere. IOW back to the 50-state, 365 day/year strategy. I'm certainly not against a young energetic DNC chair.

What do you all think?

http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/howard-dean-dem-leadership-is-old-and-creaky-882320451608

[Zoonart]

1. I'm old and cranky...

and I could not agree more. It is time for the next generation of Democrats to cut their teeth in crisis.
Now is time for the back benchers to plant their flags for the future after all, it belongs to them.

All this chatter about nominating anyone over 65 in the 2020 election is folly. The old school democrats are going to serve in a very valuable position as advisers to the new class.

[NewJeffCT]

6. not just advisers

but, some of them could be put into important roles in a Democratic White House - secretary of state, attorney general, etc

[tech3149]

41. Old and Cranky here too!

And I'm with you. My take on the problem goes toward building the party from the ground up. I moved back to SW Pa back in 2002 and the party was pretty much a ghost until a month before elections. If that wasn't bad enough, every effort for new blood to be developed for candidates or party leadership was sequestered by their ability to raise money. If you don't move in moneyed circles it doesn't matter how good your ideas are.
It's been awhile since I had daily interactions with young people who are becoming aware of the world but I suspect they are just as smart, if not more than my nieces and grandkids. And their BS detectors are pretty finely tuned.

[RKP5637]

2. I hear this from many people, that the democratic party needs to be revitalized and back to a

50-state strategy, and needs a shakeup of leadership. As another poster said, it's time for the next generation to take control and the cranks LOL to advise and help guide them.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

31. Agree

A 50 state strategy is what Howard Dean pursued and it worked.

[randome]

3. No. More. Septuagenarians.

Sorry to be ageist but it's time to bring in the new. The GOP is in the same position. Our party stands a better chance of pivoting before they do.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

[crazycatlady]

48. The GOP is actually in a better position

They have a deeper bench of Gen X politicians that hold statewide office or a leadership position than we do. Yes a lot fizzled in the 2016 primaries.

The Democrats don't have many Gen X politicians. That's why I'm hopeful for groups targeting the next generation (millennials) like Run for Something. That's where our leadership will be.

[randome]

65. Maybe the best thing we have going for us, then, is that the GOP is still entrenched in status quo.

Regardless of who's running state-wide offices. At least we have noise-makers calling for wholesale change.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

[Retrograde]

81. I'm getting close to that age, and I agree

We need to be developing future US senators and representatives now, at the state and local level.

The GOP had its revolution c. 2010, when the Tea Party wing sent a lot of young blood to Washington and to statehouses: we need something similar now.

[NewJeffCT]

4. I'm getting up to that old & creaky age

Last edited Wed Feb 22, 2017, 11:35 PM - Edit history (1)

just turned 50 a few months ago. However, I agree with Dean that we need younger leadership in the party. As much as I love Elizabeth Warren, she'll be 70 in 2020. Bernie Sanders and Nancy Pelosi will be almost 80. Chuck Schumer will be the "young" one at only 69 in 2020.

There seems to be some younger Democrats with a lot of good potential:

Keith Ellison is 53
Van Jones (why is he never mentioned?) is 48
Kirsten Gillibrand is 50
Kamala Harris is 52
Julian Castro is 42
Cory Booker is is 47
Gavin Newsom is 49
Pete Buttigieg is a mere baby at 35

Not sure who else to include?

If you want somebody tall next to Trump on stage, but Newsom and Booker are 6'3" and Ellison is 6'2" and Booker played football at Stanford.

Edited to add - Maura Healey in Mass? She's 46

[FSogol]

24. Martin O'Malley is 54. n/t

Last edited Wed Feb 22, 2017, 02:54 PM - Edit history (1)

[NewJeffCT]

29. I was impressed by O'Malley

from what little I saw of the primary debates. However, he left office in MD very unpopular overall.

[FSogol]

42. If you believe what Hogan and Michael Steele said. He left due to term limits. Without them, he'd

still be the Governor.

[KittyWampus]

66. I was an O'Malley supporter and so impressed with his command of issues.

[CurtEastPoint]

28. Sally Yates?

[NewJeffCT]

32. registered Republican

according to wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Yates

[CurtEastPoint]

35. I saw that, too. I wonder if she could be won over. I mean, she seems NORMAL!

[JustAnotherGen]

60. Yep - the next Generation

Is Generation X. I think we are bearing a very unique burden - we take care of Senior Parents, and see young people/children struggingling to pay/get through college.

I'd like someone in the white house and as party leadership that 'gets' that.

Student Loan Relief and SS/Medicare are on equal footing with me.

I'm 44.

[LonePirate]

5. I like what I have seen so far from Buttigieg.

There are benefits to having a young, fresh face from the Midwest in the chair who can be viewed as not being part of the Washington establishment.

We may be leaderless right now but we have capable people willing to step up for the party.

[Renew Deal]

7. The House Democratic Leader is a 76 year old $100 millionaire

Nothing says progressive ideas for the future like a 76 year old $100 millionaire

[truebluegreen]

37. Amen.

[GoCubsGo]

69. The 76-year-old House Democratic Leader has institutional memory.

She knows how things work in Congress a hell of a lot better than the younger congresspeople do. I'm all for the younger people taking over the party (i.e., DNC) leadership. But, when it comes to Congress, I would much rather have the older people, who are far more familiar with all the ins and outs of Congress taking the lead.

BTW, being old and wealthy does not preclude one from having progressive ideas for the future. See: Ted Kennedy.

[Docreed2003]

8. I think age plays a part in this but not as Dean is suggesting...

At the outset, I'll say I would be pleased with Ellison, Perez, or Buttigieg.
I think the party does need an infusion of younger supporters and a leadership that recognizes the power of the Gen X/Gen Y/Millennial vote as well as the consistent bulwarks of the party who are in older generations. That being said, I think the biggest plus would be someone who is not a "known quantity". That would be someone who has a vision for broadening the party and experience, without being an instant punching bag for the right.

We have a massive fight ahead of us. My hope is that, whoever is chosen, has the foresight to tap into the concerns and the power of all generations of Dems. Just my 2c as a Gen X'er....lol.

[alarimer]

56. A lot of younger voters do not want to belong to a political party

They are seen as corrupt. And to some extent, they would be right.

I wish political parties could be abolished.

[johnp3907]

9. No.

[SharonAnn]

10. At 72, we realize that younger people are needed to take us into the future.

I feel that we've let the country down by not doing a better job of cementing Democratic Party values.
I'm much more in line with the younger voters but recognize that my role now is to support them, provide information from experience, and be a 'force multiplier" for them.
It's time to take a very fresh look at things.
That doesn't mean I don't respect what the leadership has done, I just recognize that it's time to turn over the reins. That happens in every organization and this one is very important to the country's future.

[RKP5637]

22. Well said!!! n/t

[erinlough]

59. I've watched Pete in real time as a Michigan neighbor of South Bend.

He is amazing. He is a Dem in a very red state, a veteran still serving, gay and proud of it, very involved with the community, supported by blacks, whites, young and old, and revitalizing a rust belt city in decline. What is there that would not help the Democratic Party?

[JaneQPublic]

11. Both Howard Dean and Martin O'Malley back Buttigieg.

And those are the two folks I most wanted to run DNC, so their endorsement carries weight.

I really wanted to like Ellison, but his in his TV interviews, he wasn't very inspiring -- just didn't have vision or a fire in his belly.

Buttigieg fully embraces the 50 state strategy, is young, has exp as mayor running things, has a military background, got elected in a red state, works outside the beltway, and I thought I heard he was gay, but not sure.

That said, it's not like WE get a vote in the matter.

[CousinIT]

13. Who does get a vote in the matter...and when?

I should know this, but I don't.

[JaneQPublic]

20. 447 DNC members, on 23-26 Feb 2017.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_National_Committee_chairmanship_election,_2017

[CousinIT]

21. Tx.

[Me.]

27. I Like Him Too

And I also agree with those who, over the last weeks, say Ellison & Perez cancel each other out.

[Chasstev365]

12. YES!

Last edited Wed Feb 22, 2017, 04:39 PM - Edit history (1)

They desparately need a new, old, strategy fight for the ideals of the New Deal! For all it was BS, there is a reason people voted for the Orange Menace.

[RKP5637]

23. Yep, the writing was on the wall and whether we like it or not, tRump saw it and exploited it. n/t

[DFW]

14. Howard has been calling for "younger blood" in our leadership since Obama was inaugurated

The fact that few wanted to listen to him doesn't change the fact that he was right.

I asked him a few months ago if he would take the DNC chairmanship again, and he admitted he had briefly considered running for it, but then quickly decided not to. He said he'd do it if no one with the right age and credentials stepped up, but I just don't think his heart was in it any more. He didn't have much of a private life between 2005 and 2008, and I know Judy was not happy with the situation. If by any chance his man gets the nod, (or even Perez), I think Howard will be on call as a senior adviser, especially since he has been there, and oh, MAN, has he done that--as in better than anyone still living.

I still see Ellison as the odds-on favorite at this instant, but I'm far from convinced he'd be our best choice. He does not come baggage-free, and I don't know if he'd do as well as Howard in connecting with Democrats from areas where more moderate voices are the only ones with a chance of getting through. Howard threaded that needle like a master tailor, and I get the impression that Buttigieg might be up to it, too. Perez would be a compromise, although one I find perfectly acceptable. It is no feat of magic for a DNC chair to connect with Democrats in Minneapolis and lead them to victory. But we also need one who can connect with Democrats in Indianapolis, too, and somehow lead them to an improbable victory as well.

Howard is obviously backing a long shot with Buttigieg, but who thought, in February 2005, that we'd win the House and the Senate in 2006, plus the White House with Obama 2 years later? In 2005, people thought Howard was taking on a lost cause. By November 2008, the impression was more that he walked on water, and even if he didn't, his feet didn't sink very deep. Don't tell a man who has performed a miracle that there is no such thing.

[world wide wally]

15. Whoever gets the nomination better get ALL of our support

[FSogol]

25. You are correct. n/t

[CousinIT]

30. Yea. 1000000 x that. n/t

[PatsFan87]

16. Howard Dean is right.

At the risk of sounding ageist, some of our older senators should step aside and let some younger folk bring some fresh energy and ideas into the party.

Feinstein is 83 and planning to run for re-election in 2018. I mean, really? Boxer retired and now we have Harris who I could easily see as a future president. Blumenthal, Carper, Nelson, Durbin, Cardin, Markey, Shaheen, Leahy, and Sanders are all in their 70s. Most of the other senators are in their 60s. We don't have a single Dem senator under the age of 40. Why?

[JI7]

17. maybe but ellison and perez are Obama generation

So while older than buttigieg they aren't "old and creeky".

I would be ok with any of them.

[Cha]

19. Thank you.

[FSogol]

18. Martin O'Malley endorsed Pete Buttigieg also. Here's what he said:

'If you’ve been reading the coverage of the DNC Chair race, it would be easy to think that it’s all about the past — who dines with the most big shots at Washington salon dinners, who chose the “right” faction in our Party’s 2016 loss. None of that has anything to do with rebuilding our Party now.

The DNC Chair race is not about the past. It’s not about Washington insiders or the moneyed status quo. It’s about our future.
That’s why I’m supporting Mayor Pete Buttigieg — because our Party needs new leadership and a fresh start

The only good news emerging from Trump’s electoral college victory is that more and more good people today want to run for office than ever before. Many of these patriotic women and men are millennials. They are not only the largest voting bloc by age, but also more diverse by race and more inclusive by nature than their parents and grandparents. They are the core of the resistance to Trumpism. They were on the front lines with me and my own family at the Women’s March in Washington and other cities. It is important to note that Pete was the only DNC Chair candidate to attend the Women’s March.

The Democratic Party of the past became very good at telling millennials to wait their turn. But the future cannot wait. We must call forward the goodness in the hearts of young Americans if we are going to save our country and overcome the darkness of Trumpism. And that is one very important reason we should pick a millennial like Pete to run the DNC.

Our Party has — for too long — ignored critical state and local elections. While we pretended that Party no longer matters, Republicans racked up unprecedented victories in statehouses and governors’ mansions all across the country. We Democrats abandoned our “50-State Plan,” and we have paid the price for not acting like a national party. We can’t afford to become a coastal party. We can’t pretend that state and local races don’t matter — they do. We must compete in even the reddest of districts.

Mayors are on the front lines, they get things done. They see the whole picture, not just pieces of it. If we’re serious about an inclusive 50 State strategy, we should pick a two-term Mayor from a red state like Pete to run the DNC.

Finally, our Party is the Party of values — American values. Mayor Pete’s service to others has always been rooted in the values that unite us — freedom, fairness, families, and the future. He understands our economy is not money, it is people — all of our people. That we must always connect our values and our political choices to the lived experiences of real people.

If we learned one thing from 2016, it’s that people have lost their faith in the future and their faith that their children’s lives will be better than their own. We need to reinvigorate people’s belief that the Democratic Party can improve their lives. And we need a leader who will speak with clarity to the hopes and aspirations of every family in cities and small towns all across our country.

I know many of the other candidates for DNC Chair in this race. While they are all good people, this election is about who can best lead the Democratic Party forward in these times. Mayor Pete has the vision and experience that we need — especially right now. That is why I’m urging you to Pick Pete for DNC Chair.'

[greymattermom]

26. Canada has Justin Trudeau

We need someone with that intellect and energy.

[Demsrule86]

33. Ellison is not the person for the job.

He has said things that will make him the issue and this will hurt our candidates...also he wants to stop taking donor money...so our people will be starved in a mid-term we might win. Pete Buttigieg would not be seen as Bernie or Hillary's guy, we could finally put this primary behind us...he also talks about how important the states are...we won't have enough money under Ellison to wage a credible election and take back power...which we must do if we are to stop Trump.

[JaneQPublic]

44. Excellent points, esp Pete the non-Hillary/Non-Bernie candidate (nt)

[Demsrule86]

54. Thanks. Time to end the proxy primary fight for the DNC chair.

[Goblinmonger]

82. I like Buttigieg and would be fine with him (though I would rather have Ellison).

But he did support Clinton. I realize as a "small town" mayor, he isn't in the national spotlight, but his support was clear.

[Scruffy1]

34. "old and creaky" is an understatement.

I've watched the democratic party drift since the sixties. It has simply become the part of older, comfortable liberals. Many of the faithful are well off and have no skin in the game. Meanwhile we get little interest from the younger POC and other minorities. When you lose to a candidate that Micky Mouse could have thrashed, it's time for the old leadership to go far, far away. It's the last gasp for any kind of representative government and the party elite has failed.

[delisen]

62. Maybe the problem is too many people just watching? Maybe new union leadership is also needed

Unions have been eroding over the same period of time.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

36. It should be Dean as DNC chair, honestly

It was his 50 state strategy that gave Dems enough power to pass the Affordable Care Act in the first place. Everyone seems to forget that.

[truebluegreen]

38. He's a lobbyist now. Is that the right look?

[JaneQPublic]

46. Not actually a lobbyist.

Lobbyists have to be registered, and he isn't listed in the registry.

He works intermittently for a firm that employs lobbyists, that is all.

[truebluegreen]

53. That's all good then.

[truebluegreen]

39. Yes. He's right about Dem leadership.

[Blaukraut]

40. Age is a number. It's the mindset that matters. Cases in point: Liz and Bernie

No spring chickens, they. Yet they managed to motivate and energize young potential Democrats who were never interested in politics before.

[Plucketeer]

43. We had an inspiration

to lead the young into the DP and unbeknownst to him, his horse had it's hind legs tied together even before the starting gates opened. In fact, a good part of his appeal for the fresh-faced was that he looked genuine and really talked truth to power. And he still LIVES like he talked. So, in spite of his mount despicably sabotaged, he managed a dramatic and dumbfounding finish on little bitty donations from REAL people. Keith supported this fella's race and so I have to call for Keith as chair.

[George II]

63. What is all of that about?

[Cha]

73. I have to call on Tom Perez as DNC Chair..

Link to tweet

[still_one]

74. For someone who won't even register as a Democrat, what does that say, and then brings in people

as Cornell West to be placed on the DNC rules committee, who then endorsed and voted for Jill Stein.

What is wrong with this picture?

[Plucketeer]

77. "what does that say"

It says they're someone who can think independently and not have to refer to the party handbook for what words to use and how to make a sentence with them THAT'S what it says.

[Plucketeer]

78. How DID the DNC's efforts shine for '16

with good ol' Dems colluding towards victory? Just a question.

[still_one]

79. Let's see. In Michigan Hillary lost by .3%. Jill Stein received 1.1% of the vote there

Same thing in Wisconsin, and the other critical swing states, and yes, it made a difference, and enough of that difference was because of self-identified progressives who refused to vote for Hillary

I think Noam Chomsky said it best:

"Progressives who refused to vote for Hillary Clinton made a ‘bad mistake’"

"Chomsky attacked the arguments made by philosopher Slavoj Zizek, who argued that Trump’s election would at least shake up the system and provide a real rallying point for the left.

“[Zizek makes a] terrible point,” Chomsky told Hasan. “It was the same point that people like him said about Hitler in the early ’30s… he’ll shake up the system in bad ways.”

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/11/noam-chomsky-progressives-who-refused-to-vote-for-hillary-clinton-made-a-bad-mistake/

Difference was, 99% of Hillary supporters would have voted for whoever the Democratic nominee was, the reverse did not apply.

In fact, many of those same folks are threatening the Democratic party if Keith Ellison is the elected DNC chair.

As for me, I have no preference who is ELECTED the DNC chair, as long as that person does a good job.

[Plucketeer]

80. "self-identified progressives"

"self-identified and able to think for themselves progressives. What have you got against FREE thought? The country was yearning for a populist messenger and they voted (he DID win the EC vote) for the only one that was there.

[still_one]

83. anyone who didn't vote for Hillary knowing what was at stake is either NOT a progressive

or doesnt care if civil rights, women's rights, the environment, etc are destroyed, and as far as I am concerned they are as deplorable as the racists, sexists that are now in charge

[toddwv]

45. Yes.

A bit dated and out-of-touch

[BannonsLiver]

47. Just. Get. On. With. It.

This saga is painfully and unnecessarily drawn out. The election was nearly 4 months ago. There is a war on. Let's get on with the fucking show.

[TNLib]

49. We defiantly need to get back to a 50 state strategy

n/t

[Demsrule86]

55. Absolutely.

We need to take back power...and win big.

[CousinIT]

71. Absolutely RIGHT that! n/t

[JaneQPublic]

50. DNC Chair Debate tonight on CNN at 10 p.m. ET

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/17/politics/cnn-debate-dnc-race/?utm_source=CNN+Five+Things&utm_campaign=410a697fed-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_02_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6da287d761-410a697fed-82447725

[CousinIT]

61. Oh! Thanks! n/t

[flamingdem]

51. Am surprised Dean isn't supporting Perez

Why not Perez? He's young as well, and Latino.

[randr]

52. Maybe we should grade them on performance?

So just how have they done over the last decade?
"Old and creaky" is putting it kindly.

[Wounded Bear]

57. He has a point...

we do need some fresh young blood in the party. That in itself might help energize the millenials to our causes.

It's not that I want to kick anybody to the curb who is still effective in Congress/Senate, but we really need some fresh blood. Apparently there is YUGE interest out there in running for office, as reported by the DCCC. Sounds good to me. I'd love to flip about 60 districts this cycle. Wishful thinking? Maybe so, but why not dream big?

[Phoenix61]

58. Agreed!

I think one of the reasons Obama was so popular is because of his age. Old enough to have wisdom, young enough to appeal to the millenials. I hadn't heard of Buttigieg before reading this but Dean's endorsement is a big deal. I'm concerned about Ellison's thoughts on corporate donations.

[delisen]

64. Too much scapegoating; to much ageism. nt

[GoCubsGo]

70. Yes. This.

[hollowdweller]

67. I think geography is more of an obstacle than age

We need some input from like Ohio, Wisconsin, the South, not just he coasts.

I see it on here. People on both coasts have a difft set of priorities than dems in between.

That is why the map is looking like it does.

[Willie Pep]

75. I think this is true.

We are on our way to becoming a regional (coastal) party if we aren't there already and that is very bad. Some people think that we cannot win elections in the red states but I don't agree with this. The Republicans are not very popular either even though they win elections. Besides dealing with voter suppression and gerrymandering our biggest problem is turnout. A lot of people don't vote and these folks disproportionately fit the profile of a Democratic voter (less affluent, non-white) so we need to work on getting these people registered to vote and to the polls. If we increase turnout I think we could win even in deep red states.

[Blue_true]

68. Get off of my lawn!!!!!!!!!!! nt

[kentuck]

72. May be?

time for some new blood?

[Sucha NastyWoman]

76. Make new friends but keep the old

There is no denying that people like Bernie and Elizabeth still have a lot to contribute. But contributing and leading are two different things.

I am up there in age myself, and I see that once you pass 50s or 60s even, you don't have the energy that you used to. And some other qualities are diminished too, even though there may be plenty of value still left. But few people are really in their prime past 50. I say let's keep the older people in advisory positions but let a newer and younger generation run the show.

I don't think young people have been particularly interested in joining the Democratic Party for a long time, until now. I think right now is a prime for recruiting them because they can see the importance of renewing our party in order to fight the Republican evil. But they're not going to go along with the same old same old.