Vilsack - DNC Chair?

[Debi]

I've been reading on dKos and a little here about the DNC Chair choice (and Iowa's status as First in the Nation).

What do Iowans think?

We need someone strong for our Chair - we need someone strong to defend our first in the nation status.

What do you think?

[murielm99]

1. I don't live in Iowa, but we have farm property there, and

my daughter lives there. We are very aware of Iowa issues.

My daughter is an active Democrat. She thinks Vilsack is too bland. I tend to agree.

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. Dean - and no other

End of story.
If they ever want another penny out of me, it better be Dean.

[phantom power]

3. This is tangential, but "Vilsack" is an unfortunate name

Like some combination of male anatomy with an erectile-dysfunction drug.

[DU9598]

4. Not my ideal

I cannot figure out Vilsack. He is very hard to read. He came into office on fire - gay rights, workers' rights, but he has become more and more centrist and less of a fighter for my ideals. But, he wins.

I really hope that he decides to run for Governor in 2006, otherwise we are looking at Gov. Nussle (R). That would be horrible for Iowa. If DNC chair makes Vilsack run again in Iowa, then I am for him. What really needs to happen is for the IDP to get its act together and get us the best possible candidates in our congressional seats. Christie Vilsack must take on Rep. Leach in the second district. Pat Murphy, State House minority leader (minority by 51-49 margin) must run for the open seat in the first district in 2006. State Rep. Paul Shomshor must run against Rep. King in the fifth district. Who can run in the third against Latham? 2006 is the year to pick up 2-3 house seats in Iowa.

As for DNC chair, again, I like Vilsack for the position if it helps retain Terrace Hill. Otherwise, I trust the collective wisdom of the party as to whether it is Dean or an outsider.

However, no Vilsack for President for me. He wins, but I don't care too much for the way he governs. If you cannot tell, I have mixed feelings on Vilsack.

[hackwriter]

5. So Iowa's needs are the only ones that matter?

I'm trying to see if I understand you correctly: Vilsack should head the DNC so that he can keep your caucuses. That's the sum total of what the DNC should do?

Not to diss Iowa, but what about the other 59 states? I'm not convinced that Iowa is enough representative of the country as a whole to have the level of importance to the nominating process that it does as a result of the caucus system. But even if it is, or even if you think it should, don't you think this is kind of a parochial issue on which to be deciding who should head up the party?

[DU9598]

6. Who mentioned caucuses?

You? Who else in this thread?

So Iowa is first in the nation. We developed the caucus system as a reform movement - apparently when nobody else gave a jack about reforming the nominating process. We put the hard work into the system as a state party when other states were still back room negotiaters. We paid our dues and have earned the respect and attention. GET OVER DUDE! Why should Iowa now roll over because you appear to be jealous that we have a good thing going? Move here if you want to take part.

[ISUGRADIA]

13. Caucuses were not a "reform" measure

I'd suggest you'd do a little research. Cliff Larson wanted some of NH's action so worked in 72 to get some attention for Iowa. Caucuses were in existance way before that. The caucuses are much more poorly attended than primaries are and more easily controlled by party leaders and activists.

No absentee, people stuck in a room for an hour at least, no accomodation for the working class, etc. Hardly reform.

NH is 1/2 te size of IA but then get many more to vote in the primary which says something. Maybe Vilsack should have decided the run to rebuild the party rather than to protect an Iowa cash cow.

[Debi]

18. Caucuses do rebuild the party

That's the major part of the Iowa caucus - only the very beginning of a caucus focuses on selecting a presidential preference.

The remaining part establishes the beginning of the party platform as well as convention delegates and central committee members (not to mention all the committee members from each individual precinct for the county convention).

It seems somewhat lazy for a person to not want to participate for 'an hour or more' in a process that places you face to face with your fellow party memebers, organizes and facilitats issue discussions and introduces new and existing party memebers to eachother, all while keeping the democratic process alive.

Explain to me how casting a ballot and going home does all that?

(and the other states that hold 'caucuses' don't really do that, they vote with a ballot and just call it a caucus).

[ISUGRADIA]

20. Yeah, it builds the party but as you can tell from off-year

caucuses that if it was not for the presidential preference portion turnout would drop 95%.

And not everyone has the luxury to take an hour off or more at 7:00 exactly. Some people have work at night, are elderly or ill and housebound, you know. So they are screwed when it comes to any say in the presidential nomination. Thanks for your vote in November but we don't want you in January!

The Dem party in Iowa milks it for the money, truth be known.

Other states that have "caucuses" similar to Iowa and just for voting normally have terrible turnout.

[Debi]

7. I didn't mean the post as inclusive

Vilsack equaling Iowa First in The Nation? I really meant it as two questions.

My being from Iowa...I'm ALL FOR Iowa staying first in the nation. I like having the ear of the candidates and I'm not going to be reasonable about changing. It would be silly for me to want anything else.

I just wanted to know what other Iowans thought.

[Rambis]

8. Dean because he is useless anywhere else

Vilsack needs to stay here and counter the absolute weirdo nazis that Iowa sent to Des Moines recently. We better pray that in 2006 we do some serious damage to the pugs in this state. Nussle in 2006 scares the hell out of a lot of people. I will be there front row to ask him why he never got around to sending back 1/3 of his salary to the government. We could also ask... Why did you dump your wife and retarded son 3 months after getting to Washington to move in with a younger lady? The family values party folks. These people make me effin sick!

[Debi]

10. Actually it's his daughter and she has Downs Syndrome

And the last two people who ran against Nussle (Rob Tully and Donna Smith) tried the 'you are immoral' path against and got smoked.

She and her older brother walked in parades with Nussle and his new wife and he still won (by a decent margin). It should be his mishandling of the budget and total disregard for those he 'represented' that we should harp on.

[Rambis]

11. Unreal!

How come nobody in the repug party gets nailed for their "family values" They also don't get burned for being chicken hawks either. It just floors me every time! I still want to hear why he didn't give back the money. I heard him say once "they wouldn't take it back" "I couldn't find anyone to take it" "the budget office didn't know how to process anything like that" All of it is BS. Write the check ass clown!

[Debi]

12. Ha Ha!

You said Ass Clown...one of my favorite sayings!!

Thank you for making me laugh!

I know you are serious and I am too. Nussle as Governor is scary! For whatever reason (his tv commercials) he is viewed by some people in this state as moderate, not the RW freak that he is.

But, what to do? :shrug:

[Rambis]

14. There is a fine line between stupid and clever

I guess we know where on that line a lot of people stand. I just wonder if they are sober enough to walk that line. Not apparently!

[Debi]

15. Goodness I hope you didn't mean me and the

ass clown statement. Next you'll tell me to quit watching South Park!

I won't have it!!

[Rambis]

16. No

ass clowns are always "them"

[progressoid]

9. I dont think it will happen

He's a good governor, but he seems to have lost a little of his chutzpah. I think the DNC needs some piss and vinegar. It's become corporate and complacent.

Plus I don't think he is well enough connected.

[Blue Gardener]

17. He already has a job and we need to keep him here

And I like the idea of Dean as DNC chair. We need a bulldog in there right now, and Dean fits the bill.

[Lenape85]

19. Yeah, for some reason, I just don't like Vilsack

[Bluzmann57]

21. I see taht this an older post

but still I feel a need to set everybody straight. Governor Vilsack is NOT GOING TO BE THE DNC CHAIR! He has stated that he's not interested in the job, and we should take him at his word. As far as Nussle for possible Governor, do not count out either Chet Culver or Atty. General Tom Miller. Both men have name recognition and both are very good at their jobs. I imagine that Miller may be a bit too "conservative" for some in DU, but quite frankly, Iit doesn't really matter what DU as a whole thinks, its we, the people of this great state whosae voices matter in this case. Miller or Culver in '06!

[Debi]

22. You are correct, the post is old

and was started when Vilsack had not ruled out running for Chair.

I agree that Culver would be a good choice for Governor. Miller has run for Gov. in the past. I like him. However, some people don't think a pro-life Democrat can run well in this state...look at Bill Gluba.