Yesterday, in response to the not-surprising news that Howard Dean will soon step down as Democratic Party chief, I wrote a piece suggesting that David Plouffe, who so competently and successfully managed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, should be Dean's replacement. After that piece came out, Plouffe said he won't be taking this job. (He declined to say what else he might be doing.)
So that brings us back to the question: who will head up the DNC? One name floated yesterday was Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri. I had noted that the party needed an uber-operative who could build a kick-asss operation more than an elected officials who could do well on the talk show circuit. Also, would being head of the DNC help McCaskill in her still (but barely) red state? As of yet, there's no telling if McCaskill is in serious contention for the position--or even really wants it.
A senior Democratic strategist tells me that the top priority of the new chief Dem has to be to "modernize and revolutionize" the party--especially the state parties. He calls the state units the "largest progressive assets that are underutilized in the country. We need an urban renewal program for them and the party." Moreover, he adds, the news of Dean's departure at this point in the transition "was not helpful. But when Rahm Emanuel became White House chief of staff it meant Dean was dead. Rahm hates Dean."
So who else may be in the running? Others mentioned so far include New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. Says this senior Democrat: "My sense is that nobody connected to the DNC really has any good ideas about what to do."
And this is not a job that can just be handed to someone. It's an elected position. The next chair (or co-chairs) will have to win over party committee members and state party chairs. Usually a president gets a big say in who leads the party. "But no one controls the DNC," this Democratic leader says. "It's a very unruly and decentralized beast." In 1993, Bill Clinton had a candidate to be party chair, yet five others ran. In the end, Clinton's man did triumph.
It might be best for Barack Obama and his crew to move quickly to pick someone who can easily win over the DNC. In the middle of a presidential transition, the Democrats do not want a messy transition at party headquarters.
![[RSS]](http://67.192.49.194/templates/images/rss_icon.gif){kind=icon}
Comments
WIKIPEDIA HAS ENTIRELY DELETED THE PAGE ON RAHM EMANUEL'S FATHER
http://tinyurl.com/5sxvdm
rahm emanuel's father was a known israeli terrorist.
Posted by: as_if!
| November 11, 2008 12:16 PM
DC,
Could it be that after the successes of the current cycle potential party leaders are lost about how to cement the wins and expand on them? It might look like a steep hill to climb.
I hope it is someone with a spine and a vision of the future. That is a hard combination to find.
Thanks
Posted by: capt
| November 11, 2008 12:31 PM
Isn't It Great How All Americans Love Obama?
[...]
We are all facing tough times, during this Great Big Depression, and it's pretty clear life will be miserable from now on, at least until Obama takes office in January and begins sending the $10,000 checks to each American household, every month. Did you not know about this?
Obama's new Chief of Staff, Hugo Chavez, faxed the details to all of us Obama supporters this morning. (If you didn't get the fax, well ... let's just say a lot of things aren't really going to "go your way" for the next 12 years.)
http://tinyurl.com/6e4k7x
Posted by: capt
| November 11, 2008 3:35 PM
On Veterans Day, UNM Honors Those Who Served
“Absent, sir!”
The short, staccato phrase hung in the air repeatedly as three University of New Mexico ROTC students answered when a list of names was read aloud on a brisk, clear New Mexico morning on Nov. 11, Veterans Day. The names were of those New Mexicans killed in the Afghanistan and Iraq military theaters since 2002.
http://tinyurl.com/5kmb7z
Posted by: capt
| November 11, 2008 3:43 PM
does it matter who replaces HOWARD DEAN as head of the DNC?
dean did not follow thru on his promise to fix the rampant voter fraud that has prevailed as of most elections to date.
FUCK the DNC!
they are nothing more than FAKE OPPOSITION DEMOCRATS ::
http://tinyurl.com/63o8zo
Obama's Foreign Policy - No Sharp Break From Bush ::
While much of the world and many of his U.S. supporters are expecting a sharp break with his predecessor's foreign policy after President-elect Barack Obama takes office Jan. 20, they may be surprised by the degree of continuity between the two administrations.
That continuity which would be made more concrete if, as expected, Pentagon chief Robert Gates is asked to remain at his post has less to do with Obama's hesitation in following through on his more sweeping campaign promises than with the fact that President George W. Bush, has quietly if grudgingly moved key U.S. policies in directions that are largely compatible with Obama's own intentions.
http://tinyurl.com/6pthoe
Posted by: as_if!
| November 12, 2008 1:41 AM
Australia To End Internet Freedom
All illegal content, which should include everything from pornography to political and religious speech violating Australia's hate laws, will be forbidden. It will be illegal to create or receive communication which the government disapproves.
http://rense.com/general84/aust.htm
Posted by: as_if!
| November 12, 2008 9:42 AM
BOMBING HEARTS AND MINDS
The US chose last week to offer India access to nuclear technology, despite the fact that India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Whereas the US threatens Iran with air strikes, when Iran, a signatory to the Treaty exercises it's lawful rights to build a civilian nuclear power industry. Hypocrisy without end, corrupted logic knows no bounds.
In reviewing history there is little or no history of Islamic terrorism before the US, UK and Israelis undertook the task of arming and training the likes of the Mujaheddin and Hamas. So if we don’t like terrorists, maybe it it time for us to stop arming and training them. But then what would we do the Global War on Terror? How could we fatten Vice President Cheney's Halliburton stock options without it?
http://www.depression2.tv/d2/node/242
Posted by: as_if!
| November 12, 2008 10:03 AM
"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia."
Charles M. Schulz
Posted by: capt
| November 12, 2008 10:38 AM
International Con Man Barack Obama Leaves U.S. With $85 Million In Campaign Fundraising
CHICAGO—In a devastating blow to millions of unsuspecting Americans, newly elected president and international con man Barack Obama fled the country Wednesday with nearly $85 million in campaign funds.
According to FBI investigators, Obama's sudden disappearance was discovered at 6:15 p.m. when the former Illinois senator failed to arrive at a gala event in Lincoln Square, prompting several aides to rush back to his campaign headquarters. At 6:23 p.m., flight logs at O'Hare International Airport confirmed that two passengers, a male carrying two silver briefcases and dressed in a perfectly tailored Brioni tuxedo, and an African-American female wearing a fur coat and speaking in a thick Russian accent, were seen boarding a private plane.
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/89940
Posted by: capt
| November 12, 2008 12:41 PM
I think Dean did a fantastic job given that the big mouths like Rahm did not see the value of a 50 state strategy..until it paved the way for Obama. So let me ask someone out there in internet land, if it's ok for Rahm to kill Dean because he hates Dean, why is it ok for Lieberman to not be killed too? Lieberman's sins were much more egregious, much more toxic to so many more people than whatever Dean did to piss Rahm off.
Posted by: airbetty
| November 13, 2008 2:19 PM
Post A Comment