[lbo-talk] Democrats Bracing for Defeat: How the Netroots Helped Sabotage Victory

mike larkin mike_larkin2001 at yahoo.com
Thu Jul 6 19:56:44 PDT 2006


http://www.redstate.com/story/2006/7/6/9361/89364

According to Jeff Zeleny with the Chicago Times, the Democrats are on their way to defeat in 2006. Why? Well, first there is the interaction between Howard Dean and the rest of the party leaders. Then there is Howard Dean's fifty state strategy. Then there is Howard Dean's frivolous spending of money on his fifty state strategy. Notice a pattern? Now, ask yourself who helped get Howard Dean elected to his position? Here's a hint. Now, ask yourself which band of rabble zealously advocated his fifty state strategy. Here's a hint.

Put them all together and apparently you spell defeat. Heck, it has gotten so bad even Rahm Emmanuel is willing to go on the record with doom and gloom predictions.

Read on . . .

That is precisely what worries Democratic leaders such as Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, who heads the party's congressional campaign committee. More than a month after a strategy meeting between Emanuel and Dean ended in an explosive dispute, the two men have not spoken directly. And Emanuel said he is beginning to doubt whether the party's nuts-and-bolts operation will be ready to compete with Republicans in key districts. "Will we have the resources to run an effective ground campaign for this election?" Emanuel asked. "This is not a contest between the 50-state strategy and the midterm election. It's a question of whether we are going to have the money for the midterm election."

For the first time since 1994, Democrats can smell the real prospect of winning back the House. Emanuel said he doesn't want to squander the chance and intends to craft his own get-out-the-vote plan.

"I can't sit and wait," Emanuel said. "In individual states where we have races, we are working with the governors to put out a field plan. It has to get done. We don't have a choice."

While Dean and chairmen of state parties that really aren't competitive, but want the DNC welfare, are touting his socialist program of DNC donor wealth distribution, more and more Democrats beyond Rahm are raising red flags. Beyond state party officials, though, many Democrats worry that Dean's 50-state strategy will leave the national party out of money and unable to compete with Republicans in the final weeks of the campaign. "It's an audacious and bold redefinition of the party," said Simon Rosenberg, founder of the progressive New Democrat Network, who challenged Dean for party chairman. "But at the end of the day he will be evaluated more by what happens in the elections than how much money the state parties have."

When asked what she thought of Dean's approach, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) deadpanned: "There are many different approaches."

Those close to Dean say he pays little mind to assessments from the party establishment.

And there you have it -- being faithful to those who backed him and promoted him, Dean is willing to go crashing through the gates of the establishment, tear down what was, build what will be, and see what happens with only the backing of a largely unsuccessful group of netroots activists. Meanwhile, the establishment waits, plots, broods, and lays plans for its coup after the Democrats' November defeat. I'm willing to bet it will not be just a coup against Dean, but one also against the netroots who are now holding their party hostage to the fringe. Already the media is laying the ground work.

__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com



More information about the lbo-talk mailing list