No matter what happens one week from today - thank you Howard Dean

[LynneSin]

He came in and knew we had to make a plan that included all fifty states, not just states where we tend to win year after year. And as I read the posts here and follow up with the polls & news sites, you can see Dean's planning actually working. Mind you, I don't think we're competative in all 50 states, but damn, we have some great races in states I would have never thought a democrat (who was not already an incumbant) could ever win again. I'm seeing great opportunites to make a difference in states like Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Tennessee and other states that seem like Bushbot breeding grounds.

We don't have a perfect congress of democrats who will be doing the job in the 110th Congress, but anyday a democrat is still better than a republican.

Let's hope we can pull this one out and get one or both parts of Congress.

[FSogol]

1. I'll second that. n/t

[SharonAnn]

30. I'll third it.

[calimary]

41. I'll fourth it. God BLESS the Great Good Doctor!

He came in and created hope and involvement where people had been neglected, ignored, written off and dismissed. And YES, he's made us competitive in states where Democrats once feared to tread. Don't know if we'll make it to the Promised Land next Tuesday, but we'll be a lot closer than we would have been, trying again with the same old, tired crap that already proved to be a loser.

My heart STILL belongs to "Hollerin' Howard."

[AlinPA]

2. Good post LynneSin, thanks. nt

[caledesi]

3. Howard Dean is da man! Wanted him for president. nt

[napi21]

4. Absolutely! I know the last time I voted here in Ga. few if any of the

Pub incumbants had any opposition! I was sooo pi**ed off when I left the poll. You sure can't win if nobody runs!

I just printed the ballot yesterday for the election on tuesday. There are NO Pub incumbants running unopposed this time! Thank you Howard for helping to build a fire under the lazy Dems in Ga!

[Ediacara]

5. I agree

This strategy has forced the GOP to play defense all over the place. Cheney is coming to Boise to stump for Salli in Idaho-01 and Otter in the governor's race. Lemme say that again:

CHENEY IS COMING TO IDAHO IN THE LAST WEEK BEFORE AN ELECTION TO STUMP FOR REPUBLICANS IN IDAHO-THE MOST REPUBLICAN STATE IN THIS COUNTRY!

This, plus their abandonment of losing candidates across the country tells me more than anything that Rove is just putting on an act, and they are bracing for a huge loss.

[Uncle Joe]

6. I agree, I believe it's a good strategy and it's the moral thing to do

The other alternative is for the Democratic Party to not represent a significant portion of the United States. If the Democratic Party said we will not contest huge swaths of the U.S. and the mass corporate media sure as hell is not looking out for the people, who is?

Kicked and recommended

:kick:

[JamesJoyce]

7. Dean hurts Dems GOTV operation

by his loathing to work with Rahm Emanuel.

[Ediacara]

8. data?

[cali]

9. Really?

How exactly has he hurt dems, and since when hasn't he worked with Emanuel? Emanuel wanted Dean to focus less on the 50 state strategy and hew to the old ways. Had Dean done that, the dem party wouldn't stand nearly as good a chance of taking over the House. And I'm sure you're as thrilled by that prospect as I am, or you wouldn't be posting on DU, right?

Don't run away now. Tell us how Dean has hurt GOTV operations.

[elizm]

12. Just the opposite IMO...

Rahm Emanuel hurts DEAN'S GOTV operation!

[madfloridian]

15. Ha Ha Ha Ha.

Methinks you have that backwards.

Dean simply wanted a say in where the money went...since he is appealing for so many smaller donors. He wanted a say, they would not give him one, so he negotiated.

[Cha]

18. Put up or shut up..where's the

proof that Dean is "loathing to work with rahm".

[Le Taz Hot]

22. And yet . . .

the DNC just took out a loan to kick in how many millions to DSCC?

[wiley]

31. You are no James Joyce, nor can you spell. I smell something....

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

38. HUH?

Mr. Dean is one of the best things our party has going for it..............

[Impashund Ubique]

43. Shouldn't Emanuel share half of the blame too?

[musiclawyer]

10. Howard Dean will be regarded as one of the great Americans ....

of all time. I suspect historians are coming to grips with this already. He was the beacon of reason at midnight. He shone so bright that the powers that be tried to destroy him. But the light never really went out and instead expanded and grew such that the lighting of entire landscape changed. Remember that people. He's a living legend. Those of you lucky enough to meet him (I have) need to let him know how important his work is and how it will be remembered.

[Cha]

19. Yeah, you are

"lucky"! I hope to some day his travels and my travels intersect. :)

[JNelson6563]

11. He's done a great job!

Just imagine, next time we run for the WH there will be a Democratic party in more than 17 states!

:toast:

Julie

[Tom Rinaldo]

37. He has done a great job.

Just like with this year's Congressional races, in 2008 Republicans are going to wake up to find Democrats competitive in places that in their worst nightmares they never thought possible. And within ten years the whole map will be in play for Democrats, though I doubt it still will be for them!

[JNelson6563]

42. Amen Tom!

And what a difference it will make to all of our candidates then! A new day is dawning. I hope the sun begins to break yonder come Tuesday!

Good to "see" you. :toast:

Julie

[gully]

13. I think no matter what, Dean's strategy will be adopted going forward

as it should be.

THANK YOU Howard Dean!

[Beaverhausen]

14. Dean in 2008?

Why not?

[Cha]

20. Why not? Because Dean

said he wouldn't run if he got DNC Chairmanship and he's a man of his word.

[Califooyah Operative]

16. Yep. nt

[Stinky The Clown]

17. I give this a K&R ... for very good reason.

Howard Dean has accomplished what we've long wanted. He made us competitive where we never knew we could be competitive.

I've pretty much stayed out of the internal sniping threads about his relationship with others who control purse strings and party politics. I saw each as doing their jobs, and there was some inevitable tripping over egos.

But through ALL that, Howard Dean prevailed.

There will be many people to thank after the elections.

But win, lose, or draw, Howard deserves ALL our thanks. In fact, he deserves all our thanks ahead of all the others who also deserve our thanks. What's happening now is that everyone is parlaying the base Howard built to propel us to a victory.

Dear Doctor Dean ....... you are THE man!

[Mass]

21. Thank you Howard Dean.

[mentalsolstice]

23. TN Is In Contention

The fact that TN senatorial race is close gives me hope for AL. In my congressional district, our African-American Dem. congressman is uncontested (although he voted for the Military Commissions Act, and I gave him hell for that)...this district has been Dem as long as I've been here. However, things aren't going well on the state level, except in districts that are heavily populated by African Americans.

With the south, particularly AL, the Dems have to realize they're split in at least 2 factions. Black and white. The African-American faction is very conservative on some social issues like gay rights, AIDS, abortion and the military, and yet liberal on social justice, education, health care and affirmative action. The Dem Caucasians tend to be pretty much die-hard lefties, that most national (centrist?) candidates want to keep at arms length. I would love to see the Democratic party bring these two factions together, as they both have some kick-ass strengths.

I have hope!

[Le Taz Hot]

24. We wouldn't be looking

at a possible landslide without Howard Dean. Hell, half the races now determined to be competative either didn't even have opponents in 2002 or weren't on the radar for the midterms. Dean is the person who set the stage.

[wiley]

25. Dean has done a brilliant job.

The old rules of politics are being thrown under the tracks. People everywhere want honesty, competency and fairness. A vote for a Democrat or against a Republican will accomplish a great deal towards that end. We really have some incredible Democratic candidates as well. We're talking about State legislatures and Governors as well. Dean will be long remembered for this, as will all the Democrats throughout the country who got it. We realized that state assembly and state house races matter. We realized that we could work together. We're recreating Democracy and holding it acountable to the people. A few more years, or decades, and people will actually believe in the rule of law again.

[NastyRiffraff]

26. The fact that we're even looking at a possible landslide...

...ain't due to Rahm Emmanuel, who can't seem to count over 15, but to Howard Dean, who can count to 50.

"We've got to win 15 seats" is way different from "We've got to make sure we have credible candidates in every race, in all 50 states. And people on the ground." We're seeing the effects of the second; we've already seen, in the past, how well the first worked.

I add my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Dean. Far from "loathing" working with Emmanuel, it's Rahm who has tried to stop the 50-state strategy every step of the way. Frankly, I wouldn't blame Dean if he did "loath" working with the DLC guy.

[ChiciB1]

27. I'll Add My Hearty Thank You To Howard Dean Too!!

And I don't care what anybody else thinks about it! It's my view and I'm sticking with it and I don't feel any need to rationalize about it.

The man has stood his ground and taken far too much guff from Repukes especially, but also many many Democrats!

Thank you Howard Dean, thank you for being a real Democrat!

[leesa]

28. Hear. Hear. He done good.

[PassingFair]

29. Couldn't let this thread go by without my heartiest agreement!

Dr. Dean got me off the couch and into
the mix. He inspires me to keep involved.

Thank you for acknowledging his efforts, LynneSin.
He is like a breath of fresh air, and a lesson
on real-life possibilities.

[SeanQ]

32. Here, here!!! k&r

[underpants]

33. Agreed-Dean was also the first to stand up and say, "The war is wrong...

and we told you it was wrong!!" Way back in the campaign. Once he started it the flood gates opened up.

[cally]

34. Yes!

I was somewhat skeptical but I'm now a believer. Howard Dean deserves much credit for this. We have a chance because Dems are winning in many unexpected places.

[Patiod]

35. I confess, I doubted the good Doctor

I've been a Dean fan from early on, and was ECSTATIC when he got the chairmanship of the DNC.

Early early on, though, I wondered if his "50-state" strategy was a good idea. Come on, Virginia? Tennessee? No way. It's like saying "the Phils might have a shot at the World Series this year". Yeah, I'll buy that.

But I'm delighted that he was right!

[applegrove]

36. Thank you Dean! Thank you.

[janx]

39. He is from the Democratic wing of the Democratic party.

All 50 states. He really wasn't kidding or sloganeering when he said that.

[Infinite Hope]

40. AMEN! (Dean vs. Rove inside)

Dean is the hero behind this election. And he's the real genious. Any idiot can manipulate an ignorant public. But it takes a genious to to educate them!