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Howard Dean, the DNC, and Shibboleth

By December 12, 20042 Comments

The theme music alone this morning brought back many mixed emotions: “If it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Press.” I remembered 18 months ago when I first saw Tim Russert leer across the table at Howard Dean. Depending on whose version you embraced, Howard Dean either was stellar or he got torn apart. Either way, that day, I sat at my desk among the Dean for America web team and watched the dollars roll in

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2 Comments

  • Jim Griffin says:
    December 21, 2004 at 3:59 pm

    GG –
    While I totally agree with you that top- and mid-level staffing was a huge problem with DFA (field was particularly bad), I don’t really fear the same thing will happen with the DNC if the good doctor becomes Chair.
    There is a difference between choosing people when you are the top dog and knowing that it’s time to bring in the hired guns and replace the staff that brought you from 2% to the frontrunner. I can imagine it’s very hard to get rid of the bench players that got you to the front of the pack, and I think Dean’s loyalty to those people led to the leadership problems in DFA.

  • Emily Thorson says:
    December 23, 2004 at 9:28 am

    I’m not so sure he hasn’t shown somewhat of a plan. I’m constantly surprised by how everyone in DC discounts the work that Democracy for America has been doing–basically holding down the fort while the Democratic party went off to flirt with 527’s and give it up for John Kerry. Dean could’ve done the same thing, and it sure as hell would have raised his profile more than campaigning for state senators and city council members. But he didn’t. And I think that speaks pretty solidly to a plan. Vision is great, and I like Dean’s vision just fine. But I like the work he’s done a lot more.