Thursday, December 9, 2004

Who Owns the Party? "I'll give this to Republicans. They know the America they want. They want a government so small that, in the words of one prominent Republican, it can be drowned in a bathtub. They want a government that runs big deficits, but is small enough to fit into your bedroom. They want a government that is of, by, and for their special-interest friends. They want a government that preaches compassion but practices division. They want wealth rewarded over work. And they are willing to use any means to get there." I can't say enough about Howard Dean's recent speech.  He came out swingin' with both fists, and the clear, dynamic phrases he used were a huge breath of fresh air for all of us who were exhausted by the overinflated fluff of Mr. Kerry.  John Kerry was a compromise candidate.  He always was.  Howard Dean made people fall at his feet.  John Kerry made people feel safe.  He was a blanket, not a candidate.  But now there's a war going on for the reins - and the soul - of the Democratic party.  While some bloggers are weighing the resumes of every party insider and carefully considering the horse race, I've already made my choice.  Give the DNC leadership post to Howard Dean.  Dean energized the primaries and gave the Dems a fighting chance.  John Kerry would have suffered a McGovern-style stomping if Howard Dean hadn't fired up the base for him.  Give the reins to Dean. The fight's becoming very simple.  There are those who like the Party as a party of big corporate checks, power players who never leave, and compromise politics.  And then there are Howard Dean and Moveon.org, who are demanding that the party learn the lessons of 2004:  that the little people can fund a campaign just as well as the big dogs, and there's a lot more of us than there are of them. This current fight may well set the tone of the party for the next twenty years.  Pray for the right decision.  Or better yet, call the head of your local Democratic party.  Tell him or her who you want running your party.  It is your party - not theirs, and not Bill Clinton's, and not Terry McAuliffe's, and not Al From's, and not Joe Lieberman's.  Ultimately, it belongs to us - the voters, the rank and file, the little people.  We need to stand up and be heard.  8:32:24 PM     comment []