James "Skeletor" Carville needs a serious butt-kicking

I have a miserable cold hadn't planned to post at all today, but James Carville has made me angry enough that I just have to...

Some big name Democrats want to oust DNC Chairman Howard Dean, arguing that his stubborn commitment to the 50-state strategy and his stinginess with funds for House races cost the Democrats several pickup opportunities.

The candidate being floated to replace Dean? Harold Ford.

Says James Carville, one of the anti-Deaniacs, "Suppose Harold Ford became chairman of the DNC? How much more money do you think we could raise? Just think of the difference it could make in one day. Now probably Harold Ford wants to stay in Tennessee. I just appointed myself his campaign manager."

This means war, Skeletor.

Idears?

Next week is Howard Dean's birthday, and I was trying to think of something nice to get him. Like maybe James Carville's head on a stick.

But I don't suppose that's what Howard wants--just a thought that makes *me* smile. (Cut me some slack on this, I'm sick and cranky.)

What there *needs* to be, for starters, is a major outpouring of grassroots support for Howard Dean. Who's with me?

A list of articles about republicans running for congress

Read it and you will know why Howard Dean is working to hard on the 50 state strategy. When we take back congress he had better get the appreciation he is due.


Jon Kyl Rick Renzi J.D. Hayworth John Doolittle Richard Pombo Brian Bilbray Marilyn Musgrave Doug Lamborn Rick O'Donnell Christopher Shays Vernon Buchanan Joe Negron Clay Shaw Bill Sali Peter Roskam Mark Kirk Dennis Hastert Chris Chocola John Hostettler Mike Whalen Jim Ryun Anne Northup Geoff Davis Michael Steele Gil Gutknecht Michele Bachmann Jim Talent Conrad Burns Jon Porter Charlie Bass Mike Ferguson Heathe r Wilson Peter King John Sweeney Tom Reynolds Randy Kuhl Robin Hayes Charles Taylor Steve Chabot Jean Schmidt Deborah Pryce Joy Padgett Melissa Hart Curt Weldon Mike Fitzpatrick Don Sherwood Linco ln Chafee Bob Corker George Allen Frank Wolf Mike McGavick Dave Reichert

Emanuel to Dean: Hand over the money!

Rahm Emanuel needs to buy a clue: You will not wear Howard Dean down.

In May, the Washington Post reported that Emanuel stormed out of Howard's office after a meeting, "leaving a trail of expletives." The reason:

The blowup highlights a long-standing tension that has pitted Democratic congressional leaders, who are focused on their best opportunities for electoral gains this fall, against Dean and many state party chairmen, who believe that the party needs to be rebuilt from the ground up -- even in states that have traditionally been Republican strongholds.

Emanuel's fury, Democratic officials said, was over his concern that Dean's DNC is spending its money too freely and too early in the election cycle -- a "burn rate" that some strategists fear will leave the party unable to help candidates compete on equal terms with Republicans this fall.

Raw Story is reporting, based on a story in subscription-only Roll Call, that Emanuel wrote a letter, dated June 22, "demanding $100,000 per targeted district from the DNC to defray the cost of the DCCC’s proposed field operation, several individuals who have read the letter said."

Sounds like extortion to me. Nice party you've got here, Dean. Shame if anything happened to it.

By way of justifying this demand to treat the DNC as his own personal piggy bank, Emanuel attached a sample field plan, presumably to show Howard that the money would be well-spent, "itemizing various projected expenses, down to details such as $1,500 for T-shirts." (I hope they're nice shirts.)

Emanuel based his "request" on the 1994 mid-term elections when the RNC earmarked $20 million for Newt Gingrich’s successful drive for a House takeover. Apparently, Emanuel thought that Howard's offer of $20,000 per district was "woefully inadequate."

Because I'm sitting on the sidelines, I think Howard should offer Emanuel $15,000 per district and each time Emanuel makes another demand, the figure goes down. I'm just saying.

Raw Story doesn't report that Emanuel has demonstrated that candidates are receiving any less money than they have in the past. (And since this is based on Roll Call's reporting, I presume that RC hasn't mentioned it either.)

This is another pitiful power play from the anti-grassroots Emanuel, who wants a top-down, tightly managed campaign this year in stark contrast to Howard's grassroots-focused 50-State Strategy. While the DSCC's and DCCC's roles are focused on incumbent protection, Howard, on the other hand, was elected chair to tend to overall health of the party. And that includes his responsibility to hundreds of non-federal candidates as well.

The "recreational ballet dancer with the vocabulary of a longshoreman" has clearly met his match.

During Dean's campaign....the party showed its hand about civil unions.

Last night I noticed posts at the Democratic Underground and Americablog about Howard Dean appearing on Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network. There seems to be a growing kerfuffle about something, and I hope others can help flesh out what's going on. Here's a more supportive post about Howard Dean that appeared at DU last night.

During Dean's campaign....the party showed its hand about civil unions.

Voter ID: Howard was right (again!)

Indiana voters must produce a government-issued ID in order to vote today under Indiana's new Voter ID law. That law hit a snag early this morning:

Indiana's new voter-ID law had its first test Tuesday and ran into a snag moments after the polls opened when U.S. Rep. Julia Carson's congressional identification created confusion.

Carson's card does not have an expiration date as the new law requires of valid voter IDs, and Indianapolis poll workers tried to reach election officials before allowing the five-term Democratic congresswoman to cast her ballot shortly after her polling place opened at 6 a.m.

"The inspector just went ahead and made the decision that it was OK because he couldn't reach anybody to get authorization," Carson said later. And she reasoned the expiration date should not have been an issue: "It says for the 109th Congress, so that takes care of that."

Carson is a five-term congresswoman. But what if she was Julia Carson, private citizen? Would she still have been allowed to vote?

Just two weeks ago, Howard had this to say about Indiana's new law:

In a telephone interview, he dismissed Republicans’ claim that the requirement is needed to prevent voter fraud.

“These laws have appeared all over the country and they’re always put in by Republicans. And the truth is, there’s no reason for a law like this. In the history of the state of Indiana, there’s not one single case of a voter being prosecuted for impersonating somebody else.

“There’s only one reason for this law, and it’s nothing to do with honesty in voting.”

No, it sure doesn't.

Mullah Dobson Responds to Dean

In yesterday's edition, the Christian Science Monitor published a very short story--just 5 or 6 paragraphs--about a meeting the paper hosted with Howard featuring excerpts of his remarks, including this:

On religion and politics:
"The religious community has to decide whether they want to be tax exempt or involved in politics."

Newshounds, the folks who watch Fox so the rest of us don't have to, report that Focus on the Family founder and former president James Dobson was given 6 minutes to rebut Howard on "Your World with Neil Cavuto" yesterday afternoon.

In typical Fox fashion, the segment was titled "Did Howard Dean Threaten the Entire Religious Community?" (Honestly, I really need to take some Tums when posting entries like this.)

Spinning like a whirling dervish, Dobson used his free air time to distort what Howard said and made sure to mention that he doesn't get involved in politics.

What, never? No, never!

What, never? Hardly ever.

Newshounds:

For visual effects, Fox went to a split screen and aired video and muted audio of the 2004 "Dean scream" and tossed in a graphic during Cavuto's introduction that read: "Unholy Threat?"

Now if I could only find my videotape with the Democrats' "Justice Sunday" program on it.

Religious Group Claims Dean "Issued an ultimatum"

Fidelis, a Catholic-based advocacy organization, fired off a press release today over a statement they claim Howard made to the Christian Science Monitor on Wednesday:

"The religious community has to decide whether they want to be tax exempt or involved in politics."

In presenting such a statement totally out of context, Fidelis President Joseph Cella claims:

"Howard Dean's statement makes it clear that he wants to muzzle America's churches and religious groups from professing what they believe on important issues facing our society. When it comes to debates over public policy and issues, Dean should be welcoming the voice of America's churches, not attempting to silence them. Instead Dean has shown utter disregard for people of faith by threatening the historical and treasured role of religious groups and churches in American public life."

"Under Howard Dean's rules, pastors, priests, and rabbis wouldn't have been able to mobilize people of faith to join the civil rights marches in Selma and Montgomery," said Cella.

I'll take a shot at providing the context of Howard's statement: The IRS prohibits churches from campaigning, unless they want to pay taxes as other political groups do. Fidelis sounds like they want to have their cake and eat it too: they want to participate in politics but hang on to their tax-exempt status. Fidelis describes its mission as to "defend and promote the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and the right to religious liberty by electing pro-life, pro-family and pro-religious liberty candidates, supporting the confirmation of judges, and promoting and defending laws consistent with the Founding principles of the United States."

Mmmmkay. I wonder how Fidelis manages to accomplish that goal consistent with the IRS Guidelines?

I have no problem with religious people like Jim Wallis and Sister Joan Chittister being politically active. In fact, I think it's wonderful because they come to the table without the fire and brimstone that the Religious Right likes to rely on.

Where I have a problem is when churches endorse candidates either directly or through those helpful "voter guides" that don't mention a specific candidate but leave no doubt as to which one they endorse.

Here is where bringing the analogy of the civil rights marches is disingenuously used: The IRS prohibition against churches (and other 501(c)3 organizations) being involved in partisan politics concerns only races for public office, not issues. Churches and religious leaders can speak out on moral and political issues but they are not allowed to:

• Endorse specific candidates for office
• Tell their congregations to vote for or against specific candidates

Neither of these prohibitions would have prevented any cleric from legally participating in the civil rights movement and the marches in Selma and Montgomery.

For more information about activities that are and are not permitted under the IRS code, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has a guide.

Surfing the National Wave to Success in November

Howard Dean wants to nationalize the midterm elections this year by capitalizing on President Bush's low approval numbers and discontent with Republicans among the general public.

From the CQPolitics.com blog:

Dean, who met with reporters at a Wednesday breakfast organized by the Christian Science Monitor, conceded that "a national wave is necessary" for his party to win congressional majorities in this November’s elections. Dean said that there are two conditions for such a wave to occur: that people "want change" — which Dean said is borne out by polling data — and that the Democratic Party "has to be seen as the vehicle for change."

...

"[Republicans] can’t do it," Dean contended, noting that the GOP has had complete control of the federal government for most of the presidency of George W. Bush. "They can’t get out of the responsibility that they have for all the things that aren’t going the way they should be in America."

Howard stressed that he wants every Democrat candidate across the country to emphasize six major points that make up the party's unified agenda:

1. honesty and openness in government operations;
2. a strong national defense;
3. promoting American jobs through energy independence;
4. building a health care system that “works for everybody";
5. strengthening public education; and
6. promoting retirement security.

Howard also said that "this national agenda will include a "values piece" that probably will be unveiled in September."

Other topics Howard discussed:

• Declined to speculate about the 2008 presidential race, in which Dean described himself as the “referee” in a large field of likely and possible contenders. Dean said that he was focused on this November’s elections, in which Democrats must make net gains of 15 seats in the House and six seats in the Senate to win majorities. “I’m really focused on 2006. I want to win in 2006. I think we can take the House back, I think we may — we’re certainly going to pick up seats in the Senate, and we could possibly take the Senate back,” he said.

• Touted his party’s chances in Ohio, where Republicans are on the defensive amid questions about the ethical behavior of Gov. Bob Taft, Rep. Bob Ney and other members of the state GOP. Dean noted that Rep. Ted Strickland, the party’s pick for the open governor’s seat, and Rep. Sherrod Brown, who is challenging Republican Sen. Mike DeWine, face no serious opposition in the May 2 Democratic primary. Dean touted Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy, who is challenging Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce in the Columbus-area 15th District.*

• Accused Republicans of trying to use immigration as a “wedge issue” in this election and also announced a DNC Spanish-language radio ad campaign that calls for a “tough and smart” overhaul of immigration laws.

*CQPolitics is also reporting that EMILY's List has endorsed Mary Jo Kilroy and Kirsten Gillibrand, a lawyer who is challenging John Sweeney in New York's 20th Congressional District. Read the entire story.

Bill Frist: The GOP's Howard Dean?

Yesterday, Chris Cillizza asked the following in his blog "The Fix" on Washingtonpost.com:

Bill Frist: The Howard Dean of the GOP?

My answer: Not just "no" but "hell, no!" (Thanks, Sue Myrick)

Cillizza's column looked at how Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is turning to the Internet to reinforce his 2008 presidential bid. I would be surprised at a candidate who did not use the Internet as an integral part of his or her campaign nowadays because Howard made it fashionable to do so:

In the early run-up to 2008, however, it's Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), not McCain, who appears to be the candidate most closely copying the Internet blueprint of Dean circa 2004.

...

On Frist's Volunteer PAC site, he offers visitors several ways to interact semi-directly with him. First, Frist has a blog that is updated regularly through which he seeks to take the temperature of visitors on controversial issues like immigration and judges. To date, the blog has received more than 20,000 posts from readers, and Frist aides insist the senator regularly participates in the online debate.

The foundation of Cillizza's column is shaky though. Here is why he makes the comparison at all:

1. Frist has a blog.

2. Frist has a podcast--called iFrist-- to show he's on the "cutting edge." “It’s consoling to know that if my podcasts put you to sleep, at least I won't have to see you snoozing!” (That is a direct quote.) I wonder if Apple can go after him for infringement? Also, check out the cool photo of Frist with his iPod on the site. Does that look Photoshopped to you?
   

3. He’s adding grassroots functions: taking a survey on national security, signing a petition in support of President Bush or endorsing the reelection campaigns of Jim Talent (Mo.) and Rick Santorum (Pa.) with more to come, apparently.

As usual, georgia10 is dead-on in her assessment:

Yet when politicians like Frist venture online, their actions lack a personal approach, making their netroot endeavors appear motivated more by politics than a genuine desire to interact with engaged citizens. Consequently, sites like Frist's VOLPAC remind me of coarse impersonations of their successful Democratic counterparts. Feingold's iPod silouette on his Progressive Patriots Fund site is sleek; the picture of Frist chillin' with an iPod? Kind of awkward.

[]

It seem to me that the entire liberal blogosphere phenomenon loses something in its Republican translation. Where Dean, Edwards, Feingold and others use the internet as a means of citizen empowerment, Frist and others use it as a means of retaining power themselves.

Even Cillizza seems to realize the comparison doesn't hold up:

How effective any one of these online approaches will be in recruiting supporters (and donors) to Frist's 2008 cause is an open question. There is a at least one crucial difference between Dean and Frist. Like him or hate him, the former Vermont governor inspired passion and loyalty among those who believed in him. At best, Frist can be described as low-key, at worst boring. Can a man with the Tennessee senator's mien inspire people to activism via the Web?

At least Cillizza recognizes the key to Howard's success--a genuine ability to connect with ordinary Americans and engage them on what they care about the most. People before party. What a concept.