Dean's Party...

Early last year, Rich Lowry put former VT Governor Howard Dean's photo on the cover of National Review with the headline "Please Nominate This Man!" I admit, the idea was tantalizing that this little schmuck might be the Democrat nominee against Bush. However, the Democrats got cold feet and went with a safer, though no more effective, choice in John Kerry.

But something much better happened. Dean was elected DNC Chairman - the public face of the Democrats. An editorial in the Washington Times looks at his first one hundred days and gives Republicans reason to smile.

The party chairman has two major roles: fund raising and presenting the party's message. Dean has failed miserably at both. To date, the Democrats lag the GOP in raising money. Dean has managed to come up with $16 million to the RNC's $34 million. And his "Deanisms" have made him - and by extension his party - look utterly ridiculous.

What is the key to Dean's lack of effectiveness? Simple, he's an arrogant, elitist, Northeast Liberal. And more importantly, as a politician he is undisciplined. Hell, for as annoying as Terry McAuliffe was, he could at least bring in the money and play spinmeister for John Kerry's double-talk.

But in the end, because Dean ignites the passion of the base, he will continue to be around for a while to help the GOP grow its party. As the times observes:

The Democratic Party needed a good jolt of energy following Mr. Kerry's loss last year, and Mr. Dean seems quite capable of providing it. But the party's problems go deeper than emotional reassurance. Republicans are slowly whittling away at once reliable Democratic voting blocs - blacks and Hispanics - and their control of the South is complete. To reverse these trends, Mr. Dean will have to do a little more than play judge and jury for Mr. DeLay.

Go, Howard, Go!

Posted by: Gary at 06:32 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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