Welcome to NEWSER, all in one news search and reporter Search News: Num of Articles: Google Top 6 Article #: News Article URL: Parsing an entire list now for: http://news.google.com/news?q=howard+dean&num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&output=search&num=100* 0. "Dr. Scream" Howard Dean The DNC Chairman? - http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/jan/article412.html Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:1617* "Dr. Scream" Howard Dean The DNC Chairman? By Craig Chamberlain Jan. 24, 2005 Well, usually who heads the DNC or the RNC is not of interest to anyone. This time it is only of interest to a small few. In the wake of President Bush's reelection and the pounding the democrats took in the senate races they have some thinking to do. Who do they want to be the face of the party? The Hamas wing....er the democratic wing headed up by "Dr. Scream" Howard Dean is currently in the lead of those who will select the next chairman. Martin Frost, a liberal who pretends to be a moderate, is in second place. The former congressman wants to keep the loony left out of the picture, or at least shut them up. Last is Tim Roemer, a pro lifer in a party where abortion is so holy that it is a sacrament never to be questioned. Roemer, then, is not merely a man with a different view but a heretic who must be silenced. Why is any of this important? I admit that it is of little interest to most people, even to most democrats. Especially with the super bowl coming up and elections in Iraq in 6 days. Who cares who heads up the DNC? Who they select says a great deal about their party. If they select Dean, they remain oblivious to their problems and vow to wage jihad to the bitter end. They will dig in never yielding an inch. If Frost wins it is the status quo. If Roemer somehow pulls a miracle there could be some reform. The democrats are looking to find answers as to why they are losing. How can they, the enlightened, the cultured, continually be defeated by the stupid phillistines? Perhaps it is the view that they consider everyone else to be stupid phillistines that has something to do with it. The party of Jefferson, Jackson, Wilson and Roosevelt, has become the party of Carter, Clinton, Dean, and Moore. Their progressive movement has led to a morality that is relativistic and subjective. They believe in whatever is popular at the moment, and being in power most of all. When your morals blow in the wind and you believe in everything, you really believe in nothing. If you believe in nothing how can anyone believe in you? The party needs to move to the center, not only for its own survival, about which I care little, but because the political climate is increasingly poisoned as it moves to the left. A party so out of touch and confined to major cities and left wing enclaves proabably can't survive no matter who runs the DNC. ------------ About the author: Craig Chamberlain has written more than 100 articles for Useless-Knowledge.com. Email: craig_chamberlain@hotmail.com ------------ Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/_Dr__Scream__Howard_Dean_The_DNC_Chairman_.txt* 1. 'DNC Howard Dean' works for most Miss. Democrats - http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/politics/10812411.htm Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:385* 'DNC Howard Dean' works for most Miss. Democrats WASHINGTON - Mississippi Democrats reaffirmed their support for Howard Dean on Thursday, as the former presidential candidate gained momentum in his bid to overcome tags of liberalism and become chairman of the national Democratic party. The only prominent Mississippi Democrat without praise for Dean was Rep. Gene Taylor, who said, "I regret" the state delegation's spurning of moderate former Indiana Rep. Tim Roemer. Second District Rep. Bennie Thompson endorsed Dean's 2004 presidential bid, which gained a rapid grassroots following before stalling in the Iowa caucuses. "I think he'll bring new spirit and new energy to the party, the likes of which we haven't seen in a long while," said Thompson. "Whenever he goes after something, he gives it his all." The Mississippi GOP criticized Dean last month, alleging the former medical doctor's favorable stance toward abortion and same-sex civil unions is out of touch with most Mississippians. But Wayne Dowdy, state Democratic chairman, noted leading Republicans who shared Dean's views. "Dr. Dean has the same position on gay unions that Vice President Cheney has," Dowdy said. "Perhaps (state Republicans) should ask Vice President Cheney to be excused from the Republican Party because he's so liberal." Dowdy also cited former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as Republicans who, like Dean, are pro-choice. Dean already has amassed significant backing from the state delegations, which will vote Feb. 12 for a new Democratic National Committee chairman. The DNC chairman is considered the party's leading spokesman, fund-raiser and coordinator of national activities. "I have a high regard for him," former Gov. William Winter said. "He certainly has the capacity to be a good chairman." Winter said grassroots organizing skills were essential to rebuilding the Democratic party in Mississippi, where President Bush beat John Kerry by 20 percentage points. Kick-started on the Internet and propelled by small donors, Dean's presidential campaign was credited by many as a grassroots political breakthrough. Dean will have a firsthand shot at winning over Mississippi's Democratic faithful on March 1 when he addresses a state party gathering emceed by Thompson. State Democratic committeeman Tex Lambert of Wiggins, however, already was defending Dean. "The first thing people ever say about Democrats is 'they're liberal,' but can you tell me what a liberal is?" Lambert said. "We didn't have no billion-dollar debt when we last had a Democratic president. We had a surplus." Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/_DNC_Howard_Dean__works_for_most_Miss__Democrats.txt* 2. About faces - http://www.townhall.com/columnists/larrykudlow/lk20050208.shtml Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:834* About faces The good news is that current newsmakers Eason Jordan, Howard Dean, and Condi Rice have virtually nothing in common. Jordan, the CNN news executive who slandered the U.S. military without a shred of evidence to back his claims, should be out of a job. Dean, the heir-apparent to chair the Democratic National Committee, shouldn’t even be considered for that job. And Rice, out barnstorming with the president’s foreign-policy message, should already be lauded for the brilliant job she’s doing as our new secretary of State. Let’s begin with worst of the lot and work our way to the best. Jack Kelley, in his column in the Toledo Blade, outlines L’Affaire Jordan very neatly: If the story is correct, CNN should have already fired Jordan. If the story is not true, Jordan or CNN must provide the counter-evidence. This episode is worse than Rathergate. Dan Rather, Mary Mapes, and others at the CBS Evening News are biased liberal journalists. But I have no reason to believe that Rather is unpatriotic. And yet, Rather & Co. were dismissed. The fact that Jordan still has a job says very bad things about CNN. Moving from worst to pretty bad, we have the probability that Howard Dean will chair the DNC. Liberal columnist Jonathan Chait calls this “a suicidal selection,” writing that Dean would be a disastrous manager. As the leading anti-war candidate in the Democratic presidential horserace, Dean initially raised an impressive $50 million. Then, after losing the Iowa caucuses to Sen. John Kerry, he went virtually broke as his campaign imploded. But let me add a more simple reason why Dean should never chair the DNC: He is not from the South and has no pull in the South. In their White House bids, Al Gore and John Kerry were destroyed in the pro-military, anti-tax, culturally conservative South. Not merely the Deep South, but the border states as well. Meanwhile, Democratic senators, House members, and governors have been crushed in a series of Republican landslides in the Southern states. The Dems will not reclaim the White House until they start the process of electoral recovery in the South. This has long been former Sen. Zell Miller’s message to his party. At the very least the next DNC chair should be a moderate from the Rocky Mountain West, someone with good communication skills who can reach out to Southern voters. But if Dean, another Northeast liberal, rises to the top, the headline becomes clear: “Dems to South: Drop Dead.” Thank goodness for Condi, who is brightening up the news these days. Reports of Rice’s recent trips to London, Europe, Turkey, and Israel show clearly that she is promoting President Bush’s vision of freedom, democratization, and liberty. She has chided Russian backsliding; has cited Ukraine, Afghanistan, Georgia, and Iraq as places where we are building the institutions of democracy; and has said that America and Europe should work together in “the great cause of the spread of freedom and liberty.” Colin Powell wasn’t much of a public diplomat. He didn’t travel often and seldom spoke the language of freedom and democracy. But now the nation’s chief diplomat appears to be in full support of presidential policy. Bravo, Ms. Rice! As we know, Bush singled out Syria as a world-class troublemaker and safe-harborer of terrorists in his inaugural speech. He said the situation is unacceptable, and if it doesn’t change quickly, action will be taken to correct it. What kind of action? The mainstream media is focused on Iran, where military action is not in the short-run cards, according to Rice and others. But no one in officialdom has similarly ruled out retaliation for Syria’s bad behavior. Which brings us to our bonus newsmaker, General Wayne Downing, U.S. Army (retired) and former commander-in-chief of U.S. Special Ops. Downing asserted last week on CNBC’s Kudlow & Cramer that Syria is clearly a base for insurgent operations. Consequently the U.S. must keep up political pressure. But he also expressed his view that before long we will see cross-border surgical air strikes against bases in the country. He also believes that U.S. troops will be part of the operations. As far as I know, no other retired four-star has made this forecast. But Gen. Downing is a straight shooter. His views should be taken quite seriously. After all, isn’t this an idea whose time has come? Coulter DVD has finally been released: Is It True What They Say About Ann? Ann Coulter is the most controversial political commentator of our day, and finally, here’s a documentary that spotlights this fascinating woman. Go behind the scenes with Ann, and meet the woman behind the stinging barb and the quick wit. In this brand new documentary, you’ll see the “conservative movement’s diva” at her best! Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/About_faces.txt* 3. After GOP Attack, Reid Comes to White House Dinner With a Bitter ... - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6133-2005Feb7.html Fixing article data now from URL I am unable to gather any information from this site, please check it out for me. 4. Andrew Stephen - http://www.newstatesman.com/200502140022 Fixing article data now from URL I am unable to gather any information from this site, please check it out for me. 5. Anything But Straight - http://www.fcnp.com/449/besen.htm Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:830* Anything But Straight I haven’t written much about the Democratic Party since Election Day, because I never aspired to be an obituary writer. But up from the Democratic dead floats the political poltergeist Howard Dean, who has risen to the helm of the graveyard known as the Democratic National Committee. As one of the foremost critics of Howard Dean during his ill-fated presidential campaign, it might surprise some people to know I applaud his resurrection as good for Democrats, gay people and America. In July 2003, I wrote a scathing column, “The Dean Delusion” that predicted a Dean implosion at a time he was riding high as the clear Democratic frontrunner. According to my column: “Dean seems unable to control his emotions or his mouth on the campaign trail….Any honest appraisal will show that Dean so far is a gaffe-prone politician who has shown a penchant for self-destructive comments that may ultimately prove his demise.”My reward for such brutal honesty was a ton of nasty e-mail from Dean sycophants that questioned my political savvy. Of course, the history books are closed and we all know Dean crashed and burned in Iowa, punctuated by his infamous “Scream”. I don’t mean to gloat and sound prophetic, but pass the swami hat and crystal ball, baby, and let me savor my Nostradamus moment! Now that my Homer Simpson end zone victory dance is over, let me explain why I now support Dean. I admire his determination and perseverance. Most politicians would have quietly slipped away and moved to Mozambique after they became a punch line for late night comics. The next time I expected to see Dean was on VH1’s “Where Are They Now”. Or maybe in a decade some rapper might have used his “Scream” as a sample in a hip-hop song. However, while critics were counting on Dean’s demise, he was counting the number of ways he could stage a comeback. Following his loss, he helped raise a whopping $3.5 million for Democrats across America. He even raised an estimated $250,000 for a recount in the governor’s race in Washington State that led to a Democratic victory. Dean is clearly a scrappy pit bull, which is exactly what the Democrats need to battle the ruling demagogues in the Republican Party. More than anyone else, I think he will stand up to Republican excess and clearly articulate the difference between the two parties.During Dean’s presidential bid I suggested that he might have an immutable character flaw where he was unable to control his emotions. Here is what I wrote: “At times, Dean seems to suffer from logorrhea - which is defined as the inability to shut up. He has had to offer apologies at least five times in recent months for either reckless statements or for insulting fellow Democratic presidential nominees.”Since I wrote this, I think Dean has shown maturity and the ability to learn from his mistakes. I caught him on television a few times and he appears more thoughtful and deliberative. The big challenge for Dean is to keep energizing the Democratic base by speaking his mind without mindlessly speaking. In recent months, Dean has also learned to smile and appear more affable on television. His angry-man routine during the Democratic primaries appealed only to angry people. If voters were generally content, or at least well medicated, Dean’s fury fell flat. We can only hope that Dean stays optimistic and remembers that “sunny sells” in American politics. Dean also has won me over with his loyalty to the gay community. Sure, it was easy for the Vermont Governor to support gay rights during the presidential campaign when the gay community was showering him with money and manpower. But how would he react after 11 states passed Constitutional Amendments prohibiting gay marriage? Would he abandon a minority group that was largely responsible for his mercurial rise as a national figure? “I was sickened in this election when on the ballot in 11 states, there was an amendment that was completely unnecessary – every single one of those states already outlawed gay marriage,” Dean said. “The only reason to put gay marriage on the ballot in those states was to scapegoat a minority that was unpopular in order to win an election.” These are words from a man who clearly understands the value of friendship, trust and loyalty – rare commodities in the dirty game of politics. Finally, the charge of Dean being too liberal is a conservative fabrication – much like Saddam’s stockpile of WMD. As Vermont’s governor, he was pro-gun, cut taxes, reformed welfare and balanced budgets. George W. Bush could only wish his record was as fiscally conservative as Dean’s is. It is too soon to tell if Dean, the ghost who wouldn’t fade away, will help or simply haunt the Democrats. Based on his resilience, personal growth, allegiance and toughness, I believe Dean has earned his shot to lead the Democratic Party. Wayne Besen is a columnist and author of the book, Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth. Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Anything_But_Straight.txt* 6. Bill O’Reilly Calls Howard Dean an SOB - http://www.newshounds.us/2005/01/19/bill_oreilly_calls_howard_dean_an_sob.php Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:2543* Bill O’Reilly Calls Howard Dean an SOB Bill O’Reilly - that great bastion of truth and unbiased commentary on all things polticial and otherwise - bashed Howard Dean’s candidacy for DNC Chairman and issued a warning to the Democratic Party in his usual calm, rational style. Here’s what he said on yesterday’s O’Reilly Factor to guests Ellis Henican of Newsday and Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh. O’REILLY: “Again, I think you guys are missin’ the big picture here. Let me put it another way, Mary Anne. Howard Dean has alienated many people.” O’Reilly gestures towards himself and after a pause, continues: “Me, alright! Because he’s an obnoxious SOB. With all due respect, he is. He’s obnoxious. Now if he gets the DNC Chair, Dean doesn’t like me. Now, I’m willin’ to listen to him. He’s welcome on the program but I don’t like him. Alright! And I’m skeptical of him and that’s not good, Mary Anne, because I’m a guy with an open mind. I’m not anti-Democrat, as you know, but, if he gets it, I guuuh - ya’ know - Howard Dean! That can’t help! There’s a lot - there’s not a lot of guys like me. But there are enough, there are enough people, who are not gonna like this, that think a new, more neutral guy would help the party.” Later he said: “One thing I like about Dean is that he is crusty and he is straightforward. What I don’t like about him is he is narrow-minded and vindictive.” Ellis Henican ended the segment by saying: “Don’t let’s make the mistake, Democrats, of deciding that the answer here is some kind of tepid, Bush-light, demi-Republican. If Democrats are gonna win, they gotta believe in somethin’. Otherwise, they won’t convince anybody of anything. Add Howard does believe. Ya’ gotta give him that!” COMMENT Amen to that, Ellis. No more “go-along-to-get-along” (GAGA] Democrats. Feisty, opinionated, outspoken, committed, passionate Democrats - that’s the ticket to the Congress in 2006 and the White House in 2008. Here’s hoping the DNC is paying more attention to those of us out here in the real world than they are to the Washington insiders. Barbara Boxer - who is my Senator - finally started the ball rolling by signing the objection to the Ohio election and through her intense and agressive questioning of Condoleezza Rice yesterday. Let’s have more in-your-face politics from the Democrats. Reported by Marie Therese at January 19, 2005 04:15 PM| TrackBack "Let’s have more in-your-face politics from the Democrats." Exactly. That's why BO doesn't like Dean and why he objects to Dean being DNC chair. All repubs want a "more neutral guy" because they know that as long as they have a tepid DNC chair, they will keep winning elections. Dean's got guts and he's passionate. That's the last thing repubs want in a DNC chair. I think Dean is a great choice. Posted by: Scott at January 19, 2005 04:38 PM Mr. Falafel is just pissed because Howard Dean wouldn't give him the time of the day and totally dismissed him . . that's why I like Howard Dean! 'Now I'm invitin' him to appear on the factor, and if he won't come on, well, he's gonna pay the consequences' Remember when Mr. Falafel said this, when his rep tried to get Dean to appear on the show and Dean just walked away from Falafel's rep! Posted by: Liz PbD at January 19, 2005 05:10 PM It's obviously been documented that Democratic leaders are loathe to making waves and changing their style, and Dean is the exact opposite of the norm. I think part of their concern also comes from this idea that Dean is some type of national joke, which I think is blown way out of proportion. The bottom line is that once he's named and once the headlines from his selection go away, a lot of his work will be done behind the scenes. And if he can shake things up, I say why the hell not! Posted by: nyythurman15 at January 19, 2005 05:29 PM Is it just my imagination, or has Falafelhead really lost his mind since the whole Andrea Mackris thing? He seems more nuts than ever, like he's headed for a major meltdown. Would any action Falafellow take be surprising to anyone? ...even something as extreme as a shooting spree? Reading cold, hard, printed transcripts on this site heightens the illogic of Falafelboy's moronic bloviations, as opposed to when they're spoken on radio or Fox's Falafel Factor. Yet this clown still has the balls to resume position as Fox's moral compass, when most couldn't show face out of shame once excerpts of his phone calls to Mackris were published. More depressing still, is he seems to have maintained credibility in this role with his audience and FNC. Posted by: NickTrop at January 19, 2005 05:58 PM Scott, I really have to disagree with you. The only wing of the party that's had any success in the last twenty years against Republicans has been Bill Clinton and friends and they are hardly GAGA Democrats. Yet, when you talk about Howard Dean running the Party what you're really saying is it's time to dump the Clinton wing. Yet, there's a good chance that Hillary Clinton is going to run for president in few years. How does it make sense to put a wildman with his own cockamamie agenda like Dean in charge of the Party if Hillary is the candidate? Sounds like yet another recipe for disaster to me. Posted by: freezin at January 19, 2005 06:09 PM Humorist Dave Barry recently looked back on the Dean campaign in 2004. "January ... a month that opens with all the magic, excitement and glamour conjured up by the words "Iowa caucuses." All the political experts - having gauged the mood of the state by dining with each other at essentially three Des Moines restaurants - agree that the Democratic nomination already has been locked up by a feisty yet irritable genius, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, thanks to his two unbeatable weapons: 1) the Internet, and 2) college students wearing orange hats. But it turns out that the Iowa voters are out of the loop regarding the Dean strategic brilliance. Instead, they vote for John "I Served in Vietnam" Kerry, who served in Vietnam and also has many policies, although nobody, including him, seems to know for sure exactly what they are. Dean, reacting to his Iowa loss, gives an emotional concession speech that ends with him making a sound like a hog being castrated with a fondue fork. February ... in politics, feisty Internet genius/candidate Dean drops out of the Democratic race after losing 17 consecutive primaries, despite leading in every single exit poll. March ... Russian President Vladimir Putin easily wins re-election, despite exit polls indicating the winner was Dean." Posted by: freezin at January 19, 2005 07:00 PM I'm still registered as a Republican, {taking them down from the inside ;) } but my choice for DNC chair (as a fifth column sympathizer in the enemy camp) is Dr Dean. Consider this: if Kerry had stood for something (anything!)which he had been willing to offend somebody over, he would have likely won the election. Most people I have asked why they chose Bush said that it was because he knew what he stood for, or that he was sure of his decisions. (I always countered that Bush was unwilling to accept responsibility for his decisions, as he demonstrated in the debates) They would never have been able to paint Dean as a fip-flopper and he is far more engaging and personable than Kerry. More to the point his political philosophy is more opposed to the Republilcans, but also well reasoned in terms that relate to everyday people. Hannity actually says he wants Dean, because he thinks that Dean will alienate people, or maybe because he is so in thrall to our corporate masters that he does not admit it is possible to be successful as a party if your chairman is not from that world, but the very fact that these Republican pundits are so opposed to Dean is endorsement enough for me. It is obvious that Hannity wants everyone to be conservative, so why should those of us who dont think so take any advice from him? as for the Clinton camp, they had their chance and failed. The Dems have done nothing but lose since they came to power. Let them stay and help, but they should not be allowed to remain in charge. When your team has been losing for this long its time to change the coach Posted by: RedderthanRed at January 19, 2005 07:11 PM Whoever the right wingers hate most, looks like that's Dean, I'm on that bandwagon. That's my gauge. OT: I'm very conflicted about not spending money tomorrow. I so want to join in, but after my wife does her work review, I'm a nervous wreck while she's calm and collected, we may not be able to resist and have to celebrate. We want to start celebrating on Friday, but the temptation is soooo strong. Posted by: Rob S. at January 19, 2005 07:30 PM I will. We got the champagne ready. A party is set for Saturday. Friday, we celebrate and have fun. I don't think she'll let me spend money tomorrow. Her heart's set on waiting a day and join in on the protest. My wallet's staying home Thursday. Other than Dean, who else has Faux attacked that's up for the position? I admit, I don't watch Faux because I got tired of all the Faux headaches it gave me. This Dean bandwagon is getting really full. We have to get another train car. Posted by: Rob S. at January 19, 2005 07:44 PM I like what Liz said, above - I hadn't heard about this: Mr. Falafel is just pissed because Howard Dean wouldn't give him the time of the day and totally dismissed him . . that's why I like Howard Dean! 'Now I'm invitin' him to appear on the factor, and if he won't come on, well, he's gonna pay the consequences' Remember when Mr. Falafel said this, when his rep tried to get Dean to appear on the show and Dean just walked away from Falafel's rep! Posted by: Liz PbD at January 19, 2005 05:10 PM ------------------------------------------------- Mr. Falafel is p o'd that Howard Dean wouldn't appear on his show -- I'm telling you, he's our guy to get this party moving - and the sooner the better! Scarlet, PbD Posted by: Scarlet, PbD at January 19, 2005 08:11 PM Fox is CLEARLY scared of Dean as DNC chair- but not as presidential candidate. Fox did a pretty good job of demonizing Dean for "the scream". FOx will ruin him as a candidate. What they cant do, however, is ruin his politics and strategy which he could help to implement as DNC chair. This guy is the best thing to happen to politics in years. It just so happens that his greatest contribution may well come as king-maker, rather than king. Posted by: emperor72 at January 19, 2005 08:59 PM RobBob et al re: RNC chair http://blogactive.rawprint.com/0105/blogactive_mehlman.php On January 18th, Michael Rogers, editor of blogACTIVE.com released a copy of his letter to Ken Mehlman, the President's nominee to be Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Mr. Mehlman served as Campaign Manager for Bush Cheney '04, and many thought his chances to be elected Chairman of the Party were dimmed following his "outing" on national radio.Peace Posted by: Sharon PbD at January 19, 2005 09:16 PM I was very disappointed in Democrats taking the “also ran” position on everything this past election. I realize it worked for Bush in 2000 enough to sway voters toward him, but Democrats will never regain power by “ghosting” the republicans. Democrats will have to contrast themselves and that should start now by not rubberstamping everything Bush wants. However, the big money still controls the two parties and Democrats are as guilty as Republicans in selling out the country to the super rich. The will need to demonstrate it is no longer business as usual. Posted by: godsownparter at January 19, 2005 10:04 PM I was very disappointed in Democrats taking the “also ran” position on everything this past election. I realize it worked for Bush in 2000 enough to sway voters toward him, but Democrats will never regain power by “ghosting” the republicans. Democrats will have to contrast themselves and that should start now by not rubberstamping everything Bush wants. However, the big money still controls the two parties and Democrats are as guilty as Republicans in selling out the country to the super rich. They will need to demonstrate it is no longer business as usual. Posted by: godsownparter at January 19, 2005 10:05 PM I liked some of what Dean said in the early campaign and considered him the best candidate for the Democratic party. But he not in connection with the insiders so he had to be demonized. I'm sure it wasn't just the GOP who wanted him out. He was the first in the party to really come out against the war in Iraq. For now, he seems to be the strongest. For O'Lielly, it's more of: A. jealousy B. pot calling kettle black, etc as posted above C. GOPTV playing whack-a-mole against any Dem potential power Off topic. Rove was on NBC and said (in so many words) that Bush got his madate because he won and withstood hundreds of millions of dollars in "negative advertising." That's not true. Tens of millions yes but then again ... pot calling the kettle black. Plus the kettle's ads were not as twisted. Posted by: curt at January 19, 2005 10:10 PM Off topic but did anyone see O'reilly tonight calling Soros and his group fascists? The expert he had on (a British chap from the Financial Times)had a look on his face somewhere between incredulity and revulsion when O'Reilly said it, and pointed out that he thought O'reilly, with his professed fair and balanced stance, would be all for it. I think the above comments about Bildo losing it might be right on...because he is so concerned with his image that he wouldnt intentionally allow himself to appear so ridiculous, petty and paranoid. There may be a later thread about this but Ive been waiting since I saw it to say something Posted by: Redder than Red 'now you do what they told you' at January 19, 2005 10:48 PM Appointments/Nominations Current Issues and Events Election Environment/Global Warming Free Press Issues Hypocrisy Michael Moore MSNBC/CNBC Newshounds Newshounds Dog House Off-Topic/Open-Topic Area Outfoxed Partisanship in News People in the News Prisoner Abuse Privatization Progressive Wit Religion & Politics Sleaze Factor Tax Reform The "Patriot" Act The Ghost of Ronald Reagan The RNC Party Line Unfair & Unbalanced War News Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Bill_O_Reilly_Calls_Howard_Dean_an_SOB.txt* 7. Brooks: A short history of Deanism - http://www.bouldernews.com/bdc/opinion_columnists/article/0,1713,BDC_2490_3530157,00.html Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:68* Brooks: A short history of Deanism Copyright 2005, The Daily Camera and the E.W. Scripps Company. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of The Daily Camera is expressly prohibited. Users of this site are subject to our User Agreement. You may also read our Privacy Policy. Comments? Questions? Suggestions? E-mail us at webmaster@dailycamera.com. Click here to contact Daily Camera staff. Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Brooks__A_short_history_of_Deanism.txt* 8. CLEMENTS: Howard Dean to the Democrats' rescue - http://www.lufkindailynews.com/opin/content/news/opinion/stories/2005/02/10/20050210LDNclements.html Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:955* CLEMENTS: Howard Dean to the Democrats' rescue CLEMENTS: Howard Dean to the Democrats' rescue By CYNTHIA HALL CLEMENTS, The Lufkin Daily News Thursday, February 10, 2005 Political psychotherapist" would be a more accurate description of Howard Dean's new position. Dean's official title, come this Saturday, will be chairman of the Democratic National Committee. But it will be his extracurricular efforts as party shrink that will make the difference between another humiliating defeat in the midterm congressional elections next year, mimicking the 2004 elections, and electoral success in toppling the Republican reign in this country. Without a viable alternative to the iron grip of President Bush and his cronies imposing their strict view of morality on the rest of us, the power vacuum of American politics is sucking the life out of this country. O, Democrats, Democrats, wherefore art thou, Democrats? Politics are all about the numbers and the money, but first Dean will have to hold some hands and pass out the Kleenex. The 2004 elections proved just how far the mighty, once-proud Democratic Party has fallen, from the heyday of co-presidents Bill and Hillary Clinton in the White House. Before Dean can send out his first fund-raising letter, before he can mobilize the party faithful, Dean must first deal with the very public identity crisis that the Democrats are having. He will have to help them answer those great philosophical questions of life: "Who am I, and where am I going?" No more circling the wagons, living and campaigning in denial. The Democrats have lost touch with the moderates in this country, those swing voters who cross party lines in support of candidate or issue. No longer can the Democrats rely solely on the liberalism of the party establishment in the Northeast — although their money would still be nice — to win elections. The Democrats will have to broaden their political appeal while re-defining their core principles. The times are changing and with it, American political culture; so must the Democrats. They will have to be part-chameleon, part-pit bull to lead as they are adapting their image. Hillary Clinton's recent call to find a "common ground" on abortion shows that the Clintons have always realized the value of acclimating their political views to reflect reality. Shift a little to the right or left, toss out the obligatory acknowledgement on the difficult issues of our day, and draw converts to the cause. The need for voters and dollars will not change, but issue positions vary from day to day, regardless of party. The pro-choice ideology of the Democratic Party is just one example of how their all-inclusiveness becomes exclusive. Support of abortion rights has become the ultimate litmus test of the true Democrat. Even for this position of party chairman, former Indiana Representative Tim Roemer generated little support due, in part, to his socially conservative view of abortion, that it should be legal only in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother. To welcome all, the Democrats must exclude none, despite opposing stances on abortion. The Republicans touted several high-profile pro-choice politicians, including former New York mayor Rudy Guiliani and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, at their party convention this past summer. It is time for the Democrats to receive anti-abortion activists in the party, if for their numbers alone. But what about Dean's obvious image problem, that out-of-control political persona? Can he reform it to benefit his party? Buy a self-help book, Dr. Dean. Screaming did not work on the campaign trail, and it will not work as party chairman. Dean must reclaim the image that he established as governor of Vermont, a political moderate who balanced the budget and supported gun rights. All things in moderation, the mantra goes. Dean will also have to deal with that perception — true or not — that the Democratic Party is amoral, that it neglected the importance of values in this country to its own detriment during the 2004 elections. In a recent letter to members of the Democratic National Committee, Dean wrote, "That word — values — has lately become a code word for appeasement of the right-wing fringe. But when the political calculations make us soften our opposition to bigotry, or sign on to policies that add to the burden of ordinary Americans, we have abandoned our true values." If Dean can re-emphasize the "values" of his party — providing access to health care, improving education, protecting the environment, among others — he will be able to distance Democrats from the "values" of the Republicans and its anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage agenda. The recent release of Bush's budget proposal gives Dean the opportunity to portray the Democrats as the party of fiscal responsibility. During Bush's first term, this country saw tax cuts while at war, combined with a soaring deficit. By comparison, Bill Clinton left office with a budget surplus. Sometimes perception is reality, and Dean should not hesitate to use Bush's lack of fiscal responsibility to the Democrats' advantage. Time for the Democrats to regroup. The votes will tell of Dean's success. Cynthia Hall Clements is a columnist for The Lufkin Daily News. Her e-mail address is lufnews@coxnews.com. To read more of her columns, go to the Opinion page at www.LufkinDailyNews.com. Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/CLEMENTS__Howard_Dean_to_the_Democrats__rescue.txt* 9. Call renewed for overhaul of presidential finance laws - http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/10/call_renewed_for_overhaul_of_presidential_finance_laws Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:350* Call renewed for overhaul of presidential finance laws The proposal by Federal Election Commission chairman Scott Thomas and vice chairman Michael Toner follows the first presidential race in which candidates from both major parties opted out of public financing in the primaries. President Bush skipped it in 2000; he did so again for the 2004 race, and Democrats John F. Kerry and Howard Dean followed suit. All went on to raise record sums from private donors. ''The presidential public financing system is at an historic crossroads," Toner and Thomas wrote in a letter to congressional leaders. ''If Congress does not act within the next two years, the system runs the serious risk of being totally irrelevant in the 2008 election and beyond." They propose raising the spending cap for candidates who take public financing in the primaries from last year's roughly $45 million to $75 million or more -- perhaps even the $250 million range. Kerry's fund-raising topped $200 million and Bush's exceeded $250 million after they skipped public financing and its limits in the primaries. The plan would increase the total taxpayer money available to primary candidates to half the new spending limit. During last year's primaries, public financing offered candidates a taxpayer-financed match of up to $250 for each contribution, up to just under $20 million. The Thomas-Toner proposal would increase the match to up to $500 per donation. The commissioners also propose making primary public financing available July 1 of the year before the presidential election, six months earlier than under the current system. The plan also would change when primary winners get roughly $75 million in full government financing for their general-election campaigns. That money would be made available to both candidates at the same time in late summer, rather than timing it to their official nomination at the Democratic and Republican national conventions. The proposal faces an uncertain reception at the Capitol, where a similar 2003 plan by Thomas and Toner languished. The most active lawmakers on campaign finance also want to overhaul presidential public financing, but are making their top priority a proposal to restrict partisan interest groups that spent millions of dollars in unlimited donations in the 2004 presidential race. Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Call_renewed_for_overhaul_of_presidential_finance_laws.txt* 10. Carl P. Leubsdorf Party chair shouldn't be a perch for Dean to ... - http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/columnists/all/stories/021005dnedileubsdorf.511ef.html Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:1282* Carl P. Leubsdorf Party chair shouldn't be a perch for Dean to ... Howard Dean will complete one of the more remarkable recent political comebacks on Saturday when he is elected the new Democratic National Committee chairman. But Mr. Dean has a lot to learn if he is to convert his energy and grass-roots support into a successful chairmanship and to overcome the doubts of critics who regard him as an egocentric showboater who will give the party too liberal an image. Above all, the former Vermont governor and unsuccessful presidential candidate will have to do more than give lip service to the fact that the inside aspects of the job are more important than its outside role. And he'll have to act like the director of the show rather than one of its stars. Here are some key points in the forthcoming education of Howard Dean, party chairman: •Understand what the job is. It's nitty-gritty, nuts-and-bolts politics, the kind that takes place behind the scenes and bolsters candidates who run for office. It's hours on the phone raising money. It's endless rubber-chicken dinners in garden spots from Walla Walla, Wash., to Altoona, Pa. It's showing the party flag and, for the most part, not making news. And it's mediating among party factions and interest groups, not championing the causes dear to just a few. •Understand what the job isn't. You weren't picked to be the main party spokesman, as much as you'd relish that role. That's the job of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who heads the Democratic Governors Association; and the dozens of Democratic officeholders and candidates at the federal and state levels. Mr. Reid and Ms. Pelosi may not be the most effective, telegenic spokespersons the party has ever had, but remember: Your electorate is 500 party functionaries; theirs is thousands of real voters and elected members of Congress. •Broaden the ranks of the party's top leadership to help you implement your 50-state strategy. In particular, put someone in a key post who speaks Southern – despite the party's dire prospects in Dixie – as well as someone from the West. Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, the Democrats' probable candidate for governor of Virginia in November, is unlikely to want to see you much, and other Southerners may show a similar lack of enthusiasm. But the national party needs someone who is welcome and can help raise money throughout the country, not just in its liberal enclaves. A 50-state strategy also means mobilizing other Texas Democrats besides the Deaniacs in Austin. •Understand that the national party's No. 1 goal for 2006 should be to help elect governors and state legislators. To be sure, the party's and the nation's interests will be served by electing more House and Senate members. But regaining control of Congress will be hard without a lot of cooperation from President Bush and some luck. Besides, that's the main job of the congressional leadership, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, though some financial and logistical help is always helpful. But one key to the party's future, besides the 2008 presidential election, is an increased voice in the congressional reapportionment process following the 2010 census. Democrats must reverse the gains that similar control enabled the GOP to score after 2000 in such states as Texas, Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania. •Keep your pledge not to seek the presidency in 2008. Nothing would be worse for your credibility than to look for a loophole in your repeated promises to stay out of the next presidential race if you won the party chairmanship. Besides, there's no real evidence you could win. •Be satisfied if you can raise a load of money, hire some able associates and, in a year, get some media notices that you've not been as bad for the party as many pundits now think you'll be. The party's greatest modern national chairman, Bob Strauss, was viewed with suspicion as a conservative Texan when he won a divided race for chairman after the 1972 election. But four years later, his efforts helped the Democrats regain the White House. Carl P. Leubsdorf is Washington Bureau chief of The Dallas Morning News. His e-mail address is Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Carl_P__Leubsdorf_Party_chair_shouldn_t_be_a_perch_for_Dean_to____.txt* 11. Christian Science Monitor - http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0211/p01s02-uspo.html Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:1007* Christian Science Monitor Faced with the challenge of transforming themselves from a minority to majority party, Democrats are increasingly showing more defiance than doubt - and are now moving aggressively to challenge President Bush's agenda, with the party's public face becoming more dominated, for now, by figures on the left. This weekend, Democrats are poised to elect as their party chairman former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, whose full-throated opposition to Mr. Bush's policies - particularly the Iraq war - shot him to the top of the presidential primary heap before his candidacy flamed out with the now-infamous scream. Dr. Dean will join a chorus of aggressive Bush critics - from Sen. Barbara Boxer of California to Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts - who lately have grabbed the spotlight while the overall party faces something of a leadership vacuum, with no presidential nominee to set the tone. Strategists say Dean's reemergence does not necessarily point to an ideological repositioning of the party as a whole. For one thing, the former governor has said he'll take his cues on policy and message from the congressional leadership, and his supporters say he may present a more moderate face than the image that emerged during his primary campaign. At the same time, other prominent Democrats, such as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, have made noticeable shifts toward the center of late, softening their rhetoric, if not position, on issues such as abortion. But Dean's ascent, despite uneasiness among some in his party, does indicate the extent to which Democrats are finding themselves defined - and even united - by the demands of opposition. Although Democrats may still face fissures over issues such as the Iraq war, and how better to appeal to mainstream American values, they are more immediately engaged in major battles with the Bush administration over issues such as Social Security - and may not have the luxury of internecine fighting over the direction of the party. Still, some say the party will eventually need to think more about the ways in which it's delivering its message - and the messengers it puts forward. While an aggressive stance may help Democrats fire up their activist base and raise money, it is unlikely to help them reach out to the red-state voters they need to expand their party and win back the White House in 2008. "George Bush has given us a lot to oppose, so we're spending a lot of time opposing him," says Bruce Reed, president of the Democratic Leadership Council, a centrist Democratic group that was highly critical of Dean during the presidential primary process, though it was neutral during the race for party chair. "But many Democrats are also trying to learn from this past election, and set the record straight on what Democrats stand for," he adds. "Everyone recognizes that our challenge is to win the argument with voters in states where too often of late we have lost it." Unlike the beginning of Bush's first term, when Democrats faced real rifts over whether Al Gore had run too populist a campaign, strategists this time around say the challenge lies primarily in the communication, rather than the substance, of the party's message. Certainly, exit polls showing that values were a top concern for voters who backed Bush have raised some debate within the party. But most Democrats say the solution lies in better anchoring the party's positions and beliefs in the language of values, rather than actually shifting its positions on social issues such as abortion. Whether Dean, as the new party chair, will add to or detract from this effort to expand the party's appeal remains to be seen. Certainly, supporters and critics agree, he's likely to inspire Democrats and offer a staunch voice of opposition. Many cite Dean's ability to raise large sums of money over the Internet during his presidential run, and note that he has a clear ability to inspire grass-roots activists. "We all witnessed this extraordinary revolution on the Internet, which is only going to continue," says Paul Maslin, a Democratic pollster who worked on Dean's campaign. "The fact that [he] can continue to motivate and activate this extraordinary small-giver base is just a fantastic thing for the party." But others caution that Dean's success may ultimately depend on how he defines his new role - and whether he puts the emphasis on fundraising and organizing or on becoming a party spokesman. "If he puts his persona out as the face of the Democratic Party, I think there are going to be some people, particularly in red states, who are going to be uncomfortable with that," says one Democratic strategist. Dean's star power alone may guarantee more media attention than previous party chairs have garnered, making it unlikely he'd remain a mostly behind-the-scenes player. Supporters say this could work to the party's benefit, bringing more attention to the party and its message. Dean's ability to project authenticity and candor, they say, could also provide the party with a refreshing new image. But critics worry that a constant media spotlight trained on one of the party's most prominent critics of the Iraq war - and one whose public image, fairly or not, is as a staunch liberal - could reinforce a perception of Democrats as soft on defense. Some also say that Dean represents an elite, secular ethos that could alienate heartland voters and make it difficult for him to help Democratic candidates in certain regions of the country. Still, most stress that Dean is simply becoming Democratic National Committee chair - a position that is supposed to appeal to activists - and point out that the presidential nominee will ultimately have a far greater say in setting the direction of the party. Indeed, Dean's ability to continue representing a strong face of liberal opposition could allow the eventual nominee - someone like Senator Clinton - to pivot more toward the center, picking deliberate points of disagreement with him. "The party's going to have about 28 different faces until we have a nominee," says Mr. Maslin. "He'll be just one of many voices, and I think that's fine." Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Christian_Science_Monitor.txt* 12. Coming Soon: A Howard Dean Meltdown? - http://www.nationalledger.com/scribe/archives/2005/01/coming_soon_a_h.shtml Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:489* Coming Soon: A Howard Dean Meltdown? Howard Dean quickly grabbed frontrunner status prior to the 2004 democratic presidential primaries. He was the darling of the media, and ran a decent campaign until Iowa. But once he lost in Iowa, he melted down in a very public fashion. So Howard Dean set his goals much lower for his second national run. His goal this time is to run the struggling Democratic Party. Howard Dean part II has again watched Dr. Dean sprint to the front another very unspectacular field of challengers and he is again the frontrunner. But Iowa part II may loom today. On Sunday, Howard Dean narrowly lost the support of the executive committee of state party chairs. Time called it Fowler 1 Dean 0: A dent was knocked into the aura of inevitability surrounding Howard Dean's run to be the next Democratic Party chair Sunday afternoon when the executive committee of state party chairs voted to endorse Donnie Fowler rather than Dean. Just last week the former Vermont governor had touted endorsements from some state party leaders. But it was Fowler — bespectacled, Southern, and, at 37, the youngster of the field — who prevailed in Sunday's vote. So does Howard Dean go into meltdown mode? Not likely, though it does set up a nice battle between the left fringe and the DLC democrats. He is being strongly opposed by the Clintons behind the scenes while other whispers have big democratic donors threatening to withhold donations if the democrats elect Dr. Dean to the chair. The vote is February 12th, can Howard Dean hang on this time, or does he burn out? It's going to take some serious work from the democratic anti-Dean side to cause another Dean meltdown, and if Armstrong is right, Dean may just have the votes. I'm so sick of hearing how Dean is too this and too that, when in fact, he's an intelligent and passionate centrist, just ask anybody who worked with him in Vermont during his governorship. He balanced budgets, increased jobs, and provided health insurance for almost all VTers. What he did that was "radical," was to believe in the constitution and the right of the grassroots to maintain control of our govt... And to oppose Bush's war policy when wishy-washy congressional Dems didn't have the guts to do their duty and stand up for what was right. Dean DID, and they couldn't handle it. DLC right-light beltway wimps know that if Dean wins this chair, THEY lose their only power base, and they won't have it. Yes, they 'd rather be in power within their own little world and go on losing elections, than to lose their modicum of prestige, power and $$$ that comes with controlling the DNC budget. They just don't remember what they are supposed to be there for. So let them move over and give Dean a chance. What have they got to lose? Oh, yeah, I just told you that. Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Coming_Soon__A_Howard_Dean_Meltdown_.txt* 13. Daily Cardinal (subscription) - http://www.dailycardinal.com/news/2005/02/08/Opinion/Dean-Can.Bring.Back.True.Liberalism-855542.shtml Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:593* Daily Cardinal (subscription) This Feb. 12, Howard Dean will likely be elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Upon being elected, Dean will immediately tear off his everyday clothes to reveal his true identity: liberal superhero sent to save the Democratic Party from becoming the embodiment of the spineless centrists who currently run it. When Democrats voted for the well-intentioned safe bet, John Kerry, last primary season, they were unknowingly taking the first steps toward putting George W. Bush back in the White House for four more years of theatrics, lies and squinty-eyed, radical conservatism. Kerry appeared to have a decent chance at winning. Looking back it is clear he lacked what Dean had-a clearly laid out liberal ideology to combat Bush's black-and-white conservatism. Bush won last November because he appealed to the deep-seated values of the far right conservatives and Bible-thumpers who make up much of his base. According to a post-election poll, 96 percent of evangelical Christians and 98 percent of born-again Christians voted Bush. Kerry did not win 98 percent of any voting block, turn-out was lower than expected and he lost the election. Kerry's loss showed that in American politics, idealism beats strategy every time. An idealistically appealing candidate will always beat the safe bet. By contrast, Dean was idealistically appealing. When he appeared in Madison for the first time, nearly 10,000 people came out to see him. He railed against the unjust war in Iraq, said he would leave medical decisions like abortion safety to the FDA, proposed a sensible national healthcare program and promised huge new grants to fund college education. If Democrats had only stuck with Dean, his brand of idealistic liberal politics could have won the White House for them by raising voter turnout and appealing to real liberal ideals. This formula has proven successful. True idealism won back Russ Feingold his supposedly vulnerable Senate seat with a comfortable margin and won unapologetic Illinois liberal Barak Obama a seat in the Senate with over 70 percent support. Even after the obvious failures of last November's safe-bet election strategy, Democrats like John Edwards are arguing that the party needs to get back to "values," and want to guide party strategy in that direction. This would be a horrible mistake. A new "faith" or "value"-based Democratic Party would be useless to most liberals because of the irreconcilable differences between liberal values and faith issues like abortion, gay rights and the death crusades in the Middle East. Liberals come in all different styles-religious, atheist and unaligned-but they generally agree their faith does not belong in national and international politics. They should not be forced to concede that belief in order to allow a few lousy Democrats to cling to power by copying the Republican politics-and-faith formula. Furthermore, a new down-home, faith-and-values Democratic Party would lose even worse than the safe-bet version did in November. The down-home folks already have a party and will not be easily convinced to switch to a new one. The Democrats need to take the party in its own direction, instead of trying to catch one of the few remaining seats on the God, guns and gays bandwagon the Republicans have ridden to power. They need deviation from, not emulation of, the Republican way. Howard Dean knew this last spring and he knows it now. Lucky for Democrats, he will soon be the new chairman of the DNC, and will once again have a chance to get the party headed back in the liberal direction. Never fear, Democrats, Super-Howard is back. Breezy Willis is a senior majoring in international studies. Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Daily_Cardinal__subscription_.txt* 14. Dean Poised to Be New Democratic Party Chief - http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=985943&tw=wn_wire_story Fixing article data now from URL I am unable to gather any information from this site, please check it out for me. 15. Dean Takes Over - http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0506,mondo1,60887,6.html Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:1608* Dean Takes Over Democratic pols are trying to get it up for Howard Dean, but they are very confused when the former Vermont governor and presidential candidate says he "admires" Newt Gingrich more than Bill Clinton, and that Christian-right big Ralph Reed "created a real success" with the right, and how "Clinton led the Dems into complacency and defeat." The pros are mostly cautious. Asked about her worries, soccer mom surrogate Nancy Pelosi said, "No more worries . . . I know he will work very well with Senator Reid and with me. And we look forward to whoever the members of the DNC choose." "He wasn't my first choice," said Joe Lieberman, somewhat resuscitated after receiving the Bush kiss. "I felt we needed a bridge builder at this point. But I will respect whatever decision the DNC makes. And if it's Howard, I'll go along." John Kerry, with his usual dismissive diffidence, said, "He's going to be a spokesman in certain ways. Obviously the chairman has to go to the Jefferson-Jackson dinners and other things. Howard is going to be very good for the party. A lot of people are worried about it, I'm not. I think he's been out there in the country. He's listened to people. . . . He's a person who believes in grassroots." For the right-wing media, Dean is a wet dream come true. "All I can say is, the Democratic Party is clearly endorsing doctor-assisted suicide!" snipped Kate O'Beirne on Capital Gang, adding, "If Howard Dean is the answer, what is the question? I guess the question is, How can we do more of the same? How can we look even weaker on national security, more out of touch and liberal on social issues? How can we express the depth of our anger and contempt at Republicans? Those must be the questions, if Howard Dean's the answer." On Beltway Boys, Fred Barnes said, "Howard Dean couldn't manage his way out of a wet paper bag." Bob Novak added, on the Gang: "This is suicidal and lunatic by the Democratic Party, and that is an opinion shared by a lot of Democrats that I talk to. This man can't control what he says." Margaret Carlson, however, called Dean a "lifelong centrist," and added, "He was head of the National Governors Association. He was a fiscal conservative. He was against the war, and he was portrayed as being left-wing, which he just is not. Then the right-wing media kind of portrayed him as an extremist, and then the mainstream media took the scream tape and turned him into kind of a nut. But I think he's transcended that since he's begun this. And even during the rest of the campaign, he was helpful, shrewd. He's been cheerful. He's not as down as the rest of the Democrats. And he can give a speech. He can talk. I think he is a great choice." Sending to Congress the "tightest" budget ever, President Bush pushes on quickly to implement what he calls his election mandate. So far, he has transformed the Iraq war from a bust into at the very least a stupendous PR victory. As for Democratic qualms about the president's Social Security reform, it should be noted that numerous Democrats in Congress during the Clinton administration warmly debated the shape of a new system that involved private accounts handled by Wall Street. To date, Enron's 401(k) fiasco and its 2001 tanking on Wall Street have had remarkably little effect on politicians of either party. There is no move toward serious pension reform or tighter regulation of the mutual fund industry, which underlies the 401(k). Politicians of both parties read the ticker every day and enthusiastically pocket Wall Street campaign contributions. All told, Bush is off to a good start, and he now is moving on to propose dramatic changes in our environmental laws, rewriting the Clean Air and Clean Water acts, along with the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Bush wants to relax ozone pollution laws and reduce pollution standards for SUVs, cars, and diesel trucks. He wants to legislate rules allowing corporations to hide damaging environmental information from the public. He would weaken and/or drop suits aimed at forcing coal-fired power plants to curb pollution and carry through on his promise to the oil companies to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. As for climate change, right-wing politicians in D.C. don't think the seas are rising and regard the scientists who warn of global warming as a bunch of lefty kooks. What makes these Bush ideas truly salable, whereas before they often were viewed as isolated measures aimed at rewarding reactionary business interests, is the engine that drives Bush forward. It is an amalgam of conservative political ideology embedded in a theocratic shell. People might balk at a company ripping off the Alaskan wildlife refuge, but if they stop to think, and realize drilling has nothing to do with the grand scheme of things in which God will provide for us, why not just kick back and wait and see? Wait for what? Wait for the end times, when the Jews will either wake up and smell the coffee and become Christians or burn in hell and the good Christians will be raptured up to sit next to God and watch all the other miserable souls fester and burn. Oh, come on, you say, that's kook talk. Not to many of Bush's fundamentalist Christian supporters, it isn't. And there are a lot of them. A recent Gallup poll says one-third of the American electorate believes the Bible is literally true. In 2002 a Time-CNN poll found that 59 percent of the people polled believe that the prophecies described in Revelation will come true. Quoting Grist, the online environmental site, Bill Moyers, in a recent speech on our dawning theocracy from which much of this is drawn, says, "Why care about the earth, when the droughts, floods, famine, and pestilence brought by ecological collapse are signs of the apocalypse foretold in the Bible? Why care about global climate change when you and yours will be rescued in the rapture? And why care about converting from oil to solar when the same God who performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes can whip up a few billion barrels of light crude with a word?" Events in Iraq often seem confusing, but if set into the broader context of an end-times story, they make a lot of sense. Everyone knows Israel is getting ready for the second coming, and the Bible speaks of the importance of that great river Euphrates. Armageddon is just around the corner. Everything is right on track. Considered from this angle, the political problems in the Middle East seem pretty puny. It may be true that by pumping up the Shia we will see a tightening coalition between Iraq and Iran—an eventuality we always sought to prevent. And once the Shia elsewhere see what's going on in Iraq, they may stage a serious revolt in, say, Saudi Arabia, our base for so many years. So what? From the biblical perspective these events don't amount to much. As we ourselves embrace the scriptures we must realize Iraq also is moving toward theocracy, but of a Muslim sort. Most importantly, since the victor in this recent election is not Allawi but the Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the future lies not so much in any evocation of a Western-style democracy grafted onto Iraq, but on the Ayatollah's interpretation of events and his vision of the way forward. He may keep Islam in the background for the moment, but there is little doubt he will push for an Islamic republic of some sort. Even when Sistani rejects Khomeini's religious model for governing, "he is not proposing the kind of secularism that U.S. or any other Western politicians have in mind," Ehsan Ahrari noted in Asia Online earlier this week. "Under the Sistani model of separation of religion and politics, representatives of the grand ayatollahs . . . would play a highly visible and crucial role in framing the constitution, especially regarding the maintenance of Islamic identity. In fact, it can be argued that the entire involvement of Sistani since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq has been a perfect example of how the power of the marjaiah [the ayatollah's representatives] has been imposed on the mandarins of the secular superpower. It was Sistani who demanded speedy elections. He knew what the outcome of that election was going to be. When Bush balked about holding elections, Sistani demonstrated his power by calling on his followers to fill the Iraqi streets in protest. It was he who insisted that the United Nations should be brought back to conduct or to oversee the conducting of elections in Iraq. It was Sistani's refusal to condemn the U.S. presence in Iraq that kept the Shiite protest a minor problem for the Western occupying forces. Sistani's role in calming the firebrand rhetoric and activities of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr should not be underestimated. It was Sistani, once again, who issued a religious decree exhorting the Shiites to vote as a religious obligation." From Security to Risk in One Easy Bush Plan President trades American promise for a Wall Street gamble Fear of a Shia Planet Ronald Reagan's old enemy becomes George Bush's new friend in Iraq U.S. to EU: Eeee-yewww! Rummy's Commandos The defense department's own set of spooks for spooky purposes Bush's Unprecedented Attack on African Americans Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Dean_Takes_Over.txt* 16. Dean bowls Dems over - http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-edt-sweet10.html Fixing article data now from URL I am unable to gather any information from this site, please check it out for me. 17. Dean looks to become DNC chair - http://www.gwhatchet.com/news/2005/02/10/UWireDcBureau/Dean-Looks.To.Become.Dnc.Chair-859120.shtml Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:532* Dean looks to become DNC chair (U-WIRE) WASHINGTON - With a majority of the votes and his opposition quitting the race, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean will most likely become the new Democratic National Committee Chair Feb. 12 when Democrats vote to replace out going Chairman Terry McAuliffe. The final opposition candidate to Dean, former U.S. Congressman from Indiana Tim Roemer, announced his resignation from the race Tuesday only days after Michigan State Director for John Kerry Donnie Fowler and Democratic Activist Simon Rosenberg quit the race. "I got in the race because I wanted to see change in the Democratic Party. I want to see the DNC get back to its real mission: To help each candidate and assist state and county parties to achieve new standards or performance," said former candidate Donnie Fowler in a press statement. "Dean has brought with him a grassroots movement that will reinvigorate the Democrats with new activism and new voters." Focus on grassroots organization and movement helped Dean mobilize support in the presidential primaries last winter. With such projects as online threads, Web blogs, online donations and meetups, the Dean campaign sparked interest and excitement about grassroots cyber political activism, especially among young voters. According to the University of Maryland's youth voter research institute, approximately 21 million 18 to 29 year olds voted, 9 percent more than in 2000. All that online cyber political activism translated into dollars. Alternet.org reported that, "attendees of Meetups for Democratic Party presidential candidates reported making an average of $312 in political contributions last year." "Young Democrats need to be involved and they need inspiration," said Laura Gross, Communications Director for Democracy for America. "We need to make it real for them." As DNC Chairman, Governor Dean plans on using the same successful techniques from his campaign for the presidential nomination in mobilizing and invigoration young voters to participate in local and state races. "We plan on involving a lot of college organizations," said Gross. Cyber political activism and the reach of internet technology makes politics accessible to every student in every dorm room across the nation and political strategists are hoping to translate cyber activism into political participation. Some students however, don't see the internet as the perfect solution. "I may read one or two emails," said Syracuse University Senior Kevin Heidt. "But after that, I delete it. It becomes spam." Dean has continued his focus on young voters, speaking to sold out crowds at universities across the country about his plan for the Democratic Party. In December, Governor Dean spoke at the George Washington University in a media event sponsored by Democracy for America. "Election by election, state by state, precinct by precinct, door by door, vote by vote, we're going to lift this party up," Dean said at the event. "And we're going to take this country back for the people who built it." "They need to be clear about how it will affect me personally," said Syracuse University Senior Kevin Heidt. "Otherwise, I have other things to worry about." "We do know college kids," said Gross, who is confident that Governor Dean use internet technology will make it possible to engage and encourage students to participate. "College students have grasped internet technology." Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Dean_looks_to_become_DNC_chair.txt* 18. Dean meets with Reid, Pelosi - http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/021005/dean.html Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:351* Dean meets with Reid, Pelosi Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean had his first formal meeting Thursday with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) since his ascension to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairmanship has become a certainty. Dean, who is expected to be elected DNC chairman on Saturday, declined to give specifics about the noon meeting, saying that the three party leaders had a "positive conversation." "Obviously, we have a lot of work to do," Dean told The Hill. "Reid and Pelosi have done a lot of remarkable work already," he added. Laura Gross, Dean's spokeswoman, said that today's meeting was only the beginning. "The meeting that took place today was productive and is the first of many that Gov. Dean will have on a regular basis with Sen. Reid and Leader Pelosi," Gross said. On his way out of Pelosi's office, Dean greeted several lawmakers, offering promises of what the DNC will do in their states. "We'd like to see your numbers grow in Tennessee," he said to Rep. John Tanner (D), who supported former Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) in the primaries. As lawmakers and tourists congratulated the onetime presidential aspirant on his presumptive victory, Dean took the opportunity to poke a little fun at himself. "Last time everyone congratulated me it was three days before Iowa," he told a group of visitors. Jennifer Crider, a spokeswoman for Pelosi, said, "Leaders Pelosi and Reid had a very positive and productive meeting with Gov. Dean today and they look forward to working together." Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Dean_meets_with_Reid__Pelosi.txt* 19. Dean on verge of becoming DNC chair - http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/shared/news/nation/stories/0207_DNC_DEAN.html Fixing article data now from URL Approx Words Found:1159* Dean on verge of becoming DNC chair Dean on verge of becoming DNC chair By SCOTT SHEPARD Cox News Service Monday, February 07, 2005 WASHINGTON — Howard Dean — doctor, governor, presidential frontrunner, late night TV punchline — is poised to write another chapter in his varied biography, as the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Barring an unforeseen development, the 447 members of the DNC will elect Dean as their chairman Saturday, putting him in charging of rebuilding - and revitalizing - a political organization that finds itself at one of its lowest ebbs. "It's over, put a fork in it," Democratic activist Donna Brazile said of the race to succeed Terry McAuliffe as the national party chair. Dean's only remaining opponent is former Rep. Tim Roemer of Indiana, who has only a handful of DNC members backing him. And while some view Dean as an odd choice to lead the party because of his reputation for left-of-center views and temperamental quirkiness, others see in his feistiness the fire the Democrats need. They also see in his organizational skills the talent to set the party right again after three straight electoral setbacks. "We're going to rally around Howard Dean," New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan said Saturday, crediting Dean's 2004 presidential campaign with reminding Democrats that they should stand up to President Bush, "not act like a beaten dog." He was the first Democrat to challenge Bush for going to war against Iraq, questioning the president's rationale that it was an important part of the war on terror and that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction that threatened U.S. security. But if Dean's presidential bid inspired some Democrats, the way it crashed and burned — with his emotional "yell" to supporters following his third-place finish in the Iowa caucus — unsettled middle-of-the-road voters and provided late night TV comedians and conservative radio talk show hosts a sure-fire punchline. Rather than retire to the political sidelines, however, Dean decided to seek the chairmanship of the national party in order to use what he had learned about national politics, including unprecedented use of the Internet to raise money and organize volunteers, to help rebuild the party. And last Friday, with the decision by activists Simon Rosenberg and Donnie Fowler to abandon their bids for the chairmanship, Dean is all but assured of succeeding McAuliffe at the helm of the party when the DNC voting members cast their ballots Saturday. With the Republican Party controlling the White House and both houses of Congress, the next DNC chairman will automatically become one of the party's prominent spokesmen, even as he works to raise money and provide technological and organizational support to the 50 state parties. And therein lies the worry for some. "Howard's biggest challenge will be to understand that he is not a governor, not a presidential candidate," former Clinton White House adviser Harold Ickes told The Associated Press last week. "He's quick to take a position; he will have to slow that down." Dean has already crossed paths with the Democratic congressional leaders, recently criticizing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada for suggesting he could vote to confirm anti-abortion Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia as chief justice. And House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California told reporters recently that she expects Dean to "take his lead from us" on issues. She added, "He hasn't been elected yet. Why don't we spend time on the crises we have." But others believe the party chairmanship, not the White House, is where Dean belongs and where he will be most effective. With Dean, a doctor-turned-politician, "the party will have someone who not only understands change, but knows how to make it happen," Fowler said. In fact, he reportedly views the grass-roots, disciplined Republican revolution led by Newt Gingrich and Christian Coalition strategist Ralph Reed as a better model for a Democratic comeback than the approach taken by Bill Clinton. Fox television's Major Garrett quotes Dean in his book, "The Enduring Revolution: How The Contract With America Continues To Shape The Nation," as saying Gingrich and Reed "created a real success for the right wing" while Clintonism led the Democrats into complacency and defeat. "I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for, but I admire their discipline and their organization," Dean said at a DNC forum earlier this year. And while it will fall to Dean to speak for the party on occasion, he won't be the only one. "The party will have lots of spokesmen until we have a presidential nominee," said John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator who was the party's 2004 vice presidential nominee. "But Howard has shown a great loyalty to the Democratic Party. He has shown an energy and a passion for grassroots organizing, grassroots fund-raising, all of which are very important for us going forward." But will he try, as chairman, to steer the party policy-wise in the direction he wanted to take it as presidential nominee — back to its traditional progressive roots? As a presidential candidate, he frequently declared, he would represent "the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party." Dean did not respond to requests for interviews over the weekend. He is not expected to make any public comments until after the DNC election. But if Dean becomes the party's chairman, "he will not be deciding policy" and will instead be focused on "getting Democrats elected," said his spokeswoman, Laura Gross. But in declaring his candidacy for the DNC post in early January, Dean emphasized the importance of making the Democratic Party, as he put it, "the party of reform ... reforming America's financial situation, reforming our electoral process, reforming health care, reforming education and putting morality back in our foreign policy." That declaration closely resembled the rhetoric of his campaign for the party's 2004 presidential nomination and the decade he spent as governor of Vermont after a career in medicine. But in seeking the DNC post, Dean also has shown that he has a clear understand of the party's shortcomings and the problems it needs to address, beginning with restoring its once solid standing in the South. He vowed to make the Democratic Party "a vibrant, forward-thinking, long-term presence in every single state, including the so-called "red states" where the Republican Party dominates presidential voting. That, in the end, may have been what turned the tide in his favor, what got him the crucial endorsement of the Association of State Democratic Chairs late last month. "Howard Dean gets it, he understands fundamentally the things Democrats need to do," said Joe Erwin, state party chair in South Carolina. "The DNC needs to change to help state parties more." Saved as filename:data/unsorted/howard_dean/Dean_on_verge_of_becoming_DNC_chair.txt*