So, How’s That Howard Dean Thing Working Out For You Guys?
In 2003, only 42% of respondents to a survey by the Pew Research Center found the Democratic Party to be ‘friendly to religion’. Partly as a consequence (i.e., the much-derided “values” voters), George W. Bush won re-election. The Democrats, knowing a disaster when they see one, appointed the famously religious Howard Dean as their chairman, and now – well, now 29% see the Democrats as friendly to religion.
29% – that’s astounding, and it has to give the Democrats pause, as should this: 67% (and 75% of blacks!) say liberals have gone too far in keeping religion out of school and government. You don’t have to be an evangelical activist to read the message loud and clear; the religious vote is solidly Republican. That’s important in that area commonly derided as Jesusland – you know, that little patch of countryside outside New York and L.A.
A note to Democrats who want to make a serious run at the presidency: pay less attention to Cindy Sheehan, the Kos, and the lunatic fringe, and more attention to the issues people care about…or resign yourself to four more long years. Hillary seems to get this, and that’s why I still consider her the frontrunner. Oh, and one more thing – get rid of Howard Dean, already! Sheesh, any fool could see where that was going…
My prediction for 2006:
In the immediate aftermath of the Congressional elections: Howard Dean is out. New head of the DNC, from the Clinton wing of the party.
If I wanted to be selfish, I would say I hope you’re wrong; for the good of the country, though, I hope you’re right…
if it’s from clinton, it would be a breast or a thigh, would it not?
oh never mind.
i said it before and again, i think howard is doing a fine job. six or seven prez election cycles and he’ll get his footing.
IAH, i think clint is right as usual. the only thing i would add is that after 2006 it will be shown that clinton is the dem. party and vice/versa.
[...] Mark Coffey: In 2003, only 42% of respondents to a survey by the Pew Research Center found the Democratic Party to be ‘friendly to religion’. Partly as a consequence (i.e., the much-derided “values” voters), George W. Bush won re-election. The Democrats, knowing a disaster when they see one, appointed the famously religious Howard Dean as their chairman, and now – well, now 29% see the Democrats as friendly to religion. [...]
Mark! What are you doing???!!! Telling the Democrats what they’re doing wrong? What happens if they start listening and we actually have to start working to beat their brains out???!!!
Relax, they listen to me about as well as my beagle does…
Oh. Okay.
It would be great to see Dean named Party Chairman for Life, just because he gratifies the mean-spirited, partisan side of my character. But for the good of the two-party system, he really needs to go. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon. Right now, the MoveOn.org wing of the Dems has too much financial clout for their wishes to be ignored, and they can retain that even if they do worse than I expect in 2006. (I suspect the Dems are going to do okay.)
MoveOn.org, ACT, and the other progressive/leftist money-engines felt they were successful in 2004, even though they lost–the same position they took on the recent special election in Ohio. The fact is, they were successful at raising cash and signing people up. For positions like the DNC chair, it will probably take a major presidential rout before they lose a decisive say in filling the slot.