During a recent appearance on Meet the Press, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean said he believes Democrats suffered a bad midterm election because they lacked a clear message. “Where the hell is the Democratic party?” Dean asked. “You’ve got to stand for something if you want to win.” Here’s video of Dean’s appearance on Meet the Press.
4 thoughts on “Howard Dean: ‘Where the Hell Is the Democratic Party?’ (VIDEO)”
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Nichols today writing in the Cap Times about what Wisconsin’s Democratic Party can do: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/john_nichols/john-nichols-wisconsin-democratic-party-needs-to-reconsider-itself/article_6bb5011f-6477-5cdb-b200-10fa5d52a1a1.html
EmmaR, Nichols article is a great read and Wisconsin should be a maverick party! Right now I have heard activists talk about going to the DFL style Caucus and Convention process for the DPW. I like it in that it keeps primaries, but it also gives activists a compelling reason to show up and build the party. In Wisconsin I think we would have to have a Spring Caucus and Fall Caucus. https://www.dfl.org/about-our-party/caucuses-conventions/
Thanks to both of you, Emma and AJ, for the links.
Can’t ever help but admire Nichol’s historical knowledge and recall and excellent writing.
Other than a slightly different organizational strategies, I’m not seeing much difference in political effectiveness for human rights and economic/social justice, coming from the DFL. Loftier goals and energy, but from the former DFL Chair in this article, http://www.startribune.com/local/yourvoices/282073621.html if you can get through the absolutely gag reflex trigger opening about Obomba, I’m still seeing strategies that fall significantly short of actually doing anything to improve the overall future prospects of the 99%.
Not to rain on anybody’s parade without cause, I’ll again refer to Matt Stoller, this time from two years ago, who gets to the larger problem that neither Nichols or the DFL quite gets into addressing, naming or describing in the above links.
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/09/10-arguments-the-republicans-arent-making-or-why-the-gop-doesnt-mind-losing-in-2012.html
Not to say that there is no value with a, “maverick,” WI or a different party structure, both could be significant tools, first steps(?), but unless they are ultimately set up to be used to address the real problem that Stoller addresses, they are but more futile gestures of sublimation to the status quo. For starters take Nichols recapping of peak party vibrancy and focus that energy into breaking from the DNC as should the MN DFL. If national wants your (our) support, what are they willing to discuss and work with you to achieve?
Nonquixote, thanks for the article, but the point of being able to have candidates that don’t rely on big money and out of state interest groups is to try to set up a structure and culture within the DPW that empowers grassroots activists at the local level. I still want the DPW to be active with National Democrats, but we should have our own unique party that focus’s on Wisconsin and have our party as a leader in what National Democrats should stand for.