Democracy for New Mexico

The Latest Anti-Dean Candidate for DNC Chair

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and possibly Gov. Bill Richardson are pushing ex-Indiana Congressman and 9-11 Commission member, Tim Roemer, as the new anti-Howard Dean candidate for DNC Chair. Daily Kos has an excellent diary on Roemer, which includes this recitation of his voting record:

• Voted YES on banning human cloning, including medical research. (Jul 2001)
• Voted YES on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes. (Apr 2001)
• Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
• Voted YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
• Voted YES on Constitutional amendment prohibiting Flag Desecration. (Jul 2001)
• Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
• Voted NO on maintaining right of habeus corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
• Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995)
• Voted NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001)
• Voted NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties. (Jul 2001)
• Voted NO on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)
• Voted NO on Prescription Drug Coverage under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on banning physician-assisted suicide. (Oct 1999)
• Voted YES on deploying SDI (Star Wars). (Mar 1999)
• Member of Democratic Leadership Council. (Nov 2000)

While still in the Congress, Roemer also voted against the 2001 Filcher Amendment, which would have stopped any funds from going towards Social Security "privatization." He is strongly anti-choice in regard to women's reproductive rights.

Chris Bowers at MyDD (with 5 million readers) has this to say about Roemer as DNC Chair:

Unless Roemer publicly, loudly and completely repudiates his recent position on Social Security, he is utterly unacceptable as DNC chair. Mark my words: if Roemer becomes chair without doing this, I will actively encourage all progressive activists to donate and volunteer to third-party groups instead of and at the expense of the DNC. The Fainthearted Faction has no place in the Democratic leadership.

As for me, if Roemer gets the nod I won't be giving one red cent to the DNC, regardless of whether or not he reneges on his Social Security position. At a time when it's essential for the Party and its candidates to take strong, Democratic stands on every issue, THIS is the guy that alleged liberal Nancy Pelosi is pushing? Oh, these insider Dems are scared to death to have an honest and unabashed DEMOCRAT running the DNC, arent' they?

What's your take on all this?

Richardson Wants "Moderate" to Chair DNC

According to a story in today's Albuquerque Journal, NM Governor Richardson wants a "moderate" to chair the Democratic National Committee. He said he will join with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in endorsing a candidate prior to the DNC meeting on February 10-12, when a new chair will be elected. Richardson was recently elected to head the Democratic Governor's Association, and is viewed by some as a top Party leader.

The article reports that Richardson believes the next DNC chairman shouldn't be a high-profile liberal or someone with strong ties to Washington, and that his preference is for "an outside-the-Beltway moderate."

My suggestion? Why not just elect a Republican and jettison all our Democratic values and positions in favor of cowardly conformity to Republican views? Why go with a Republican-lite DNC chair when you can have the real thing?

Richardson has already jeopardized support for the Democratic Party here in NM with his arrogant and self-serving handling of the Green and Libertarian push for a presidential vote recount. If his attempt to box out progressives from the DNC chairmanship succeeds, I predict it will hasten the flight of large numbers of liberals (dare I type the word) from the Democratic Party.

The selection of a "moderate" -- read timid and spineless -- DNC chair would underline the inability of insider Dems to understand and unite with the increasingly powerful progressive grassroots. Despite progressives' donations of millions of dollars and millions of hours of volunteer work, it's evident we're still viewed as an annoyance and embarrassment by the powers that be. Isn't it time for the Party to take a strong stand in favor of the rights of the people over the profits of corporate conglomerates? Not if Richardson has his way.

It never ceases to amaze me that the Party honchos, whose wishy-washy, weak-kneed approach to Democratic values has resulted only in losses in the presidential race and the loss of Congress to Republicans, have the nerve to claim we must continue hitting our heads against the wall their way in order to win. Talk about a thoroughly discredited strategy. Maybe it really is time for the Democratic Party to go the way of the Whigs. And I say that as a lifelong registered Democrat.

Tell Blogpac What to Ask DNC Chair Candidates

Your chance to submit a question to the candidates for DNC Chair. From MyDD:

What would you ask a DNC candidate?
by Chris Bowers

Blogpac plans to hold a series of group interviews with prospective candidates for DNC chair over the next few weeks. I want to know what you would like us to ask the candidates.
*******************
Note: Blogpac is described as:

Borne from those who spend their times online and embrace participatory media and politics, we will use online tools and technologies to further the cause of progressive politics in our nation.

BlogPac is, indeed, the first PAC to wage politics entirely online.

Here's a partial list of the bloggers behind BlogPac, those serving on the advisory board. Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos, Jerome Armstrong of MyDD, Duncan Black of Atrios, Jeralyn Merritt of Talk Left, John Aravosis of AmericaBlog, Matt Stoller of BOP News, Anna of Annatopia, Jesse Taylor of Pandagon, Chris Bowers of MyDD, Steve Gilliard's News Blog & others that are aligned with the effort. We will have more info on the direction of BlogPac in the near future.

 

Bernalillo County Dems Meet Tomorrow

Lt. Governor Diane Denish will address the Third Thursday meeting of the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County on Thursday, December 16 at 6 PM, UNM Law School, Room 2401, 1117 Stanford NE in Albuquerque. All Democrats are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Ad Touts Dean for DNC Chair

The grassroots movement to elect Howard Dean as DNC Chair has released this TV ad, which will air in DC during Inside Politics, Crossfire, and other upcoming CNN shows. DraftHoward.com and Driving Voters PAC teamed up in this effort, with donations raised from supporters.

Video on Dean's Meet the Press Appearance

From DFA's :

Governor Dean's Sunday appearance on Meet the Press is now available on video via the MSNBC website. Click below to go to the MSNBC home page—look for the box below to start the clip.

Heads Up: Progressive vs. DLC Debate Tomorrow Morning

From Take Back America, OurFuture.org

We just learned that tomorrow morning -- Friday, December 10th at 8 AM MST -- C-SPAN will air a live debate between Campaign for America’s Future and the Democratic Leadership Council on the future of the Democratic party.

Tune in and watch Campaign for America’s Future’s own Robert Borosage debate the Democratic Leadership Council’s Al From on the choices the Democratic Party now faces for its future direction.  The program will be shown live from the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

https://www.cspan.org

Borosage argues that Bush's radical agenda is out of step with the American people and that Democrats will unite in opposition to that agenda. He believes the Democratic Party will succeed when it truly champions a progressive agenda that addresses the problems of working families. From and the Democratic Leadership Council represent the corporate wing of the Party and have urged Democrats to push away from their progressive base.

The debate will tell you a lot about why redoubling our focus on “kitchen table” issues will appeal to the Democratic base and the American public at large.  And why “kitchen table” issues will be the winning ticket for the future of the Democratic Party.

People, Not Money

THE YEAR IN REVIEW
It's about people, not just money
By Gov. Howard Dean M.D.

People ask me all the time about raising money online. In a 10-candidate field, my presidential campaign raised more than $27 million on the Web. And since the end of the campaign, the thriving online fundraising continued with our new organization, Democracy for America.

But the truth is that online success is about more than money. And it’s about more than technology. It’s about your commitment to the people who support you.

In a practical sense, using the Internet isn’t even about getting votes. Its strength is in building a richer democracy by bringing more people into the process.

We learned over the past two years that a campaign website can be more than a clearinghouse for basic information. It can become a hub for turning committed supporters into true stakeholders.

When approached the right way, the Web can help campaigns and other organizations accomplish two important things: mobilizing volunteers in new ways and communicating without the expense of television or the filter of the press.

Continue reading this article from .

Contact State Dem Leaders TODAY Re DNC Chair: MoveOn Makes It Easy

NO MORE INSIDERS. We can't afford four more years of Democratic leadership by elite Washington insiders with little vision and losing records. Contact your state Democratic Party leaders and ask them support a Democratic National Committee chair who will reconnect the party with the grassroots and lead us to victory. We'll deliver your comments on Saturday.

Dear MoveOn member,

Who will lead the Democratic Party? The answer may come as soon as this weekend, when the state Democratic Party leaders gather to discuss who should chair the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for the next four years.¹ The election for chair is rarely competitive. But this year, with the race wide open, we have the chance to elect a leader who will reconnect the Democratic Party with its constituents -- us.

We've made it easy to contact your state Party leaders and ask them support a chair who will represent all of us OUTSIDE of the Washington beltway and engage us in a fight for a bold Democratic vision. If we get enough signatures today, we'll deliver your comments to their meeting this weekend, so please click below NOW to make your voice heard:

https://www.moveonpac.org/dncchair/

MoveOn includes Republicans, Greens, and independents. But all of us who are struggling for health care, clean air, decent jobs, and a sane foreign policy can agree on one thing: we're better off with a vibrant, populist Democratic Party that's strong enough to challenge the extreme-right Republican leadership.

Why haven't we had one? Under outgoing DNC chair Terry McAuliffe, the Party cozied up to many of the same corporate donors that fund the Republicans -- drug companies, HMO's, media conglomerates, big banks, polluting industries. The result was watered down, play-it-safe politics that kept the money flowing but alienated traditional Democrats as well as reform-minded independents in search of vision and integrity. And so the Party lost ground.

But in 2004, something incredible happened: hundreds of thousands of small contributors gave millions and millions of dollars and changed the way politics works forever. New we have an opportunity to birth a new Democratic Party -- a Party of the people that's funded by the people and that fights for the people. Tell your state Party leaders that you want a DNC chair who will use this new grassroots energy to catapult us to victory at:

https://www.moveonpac.org/dncchair/

The Democratic National Committee is the national backbone of the Democratic Party, and it matters who ends up as the new chair. With Democrats out of power in Washington, the new chair will play an unprecedented role as the voice of the Party. And no one will be in a better position to orchestrate a Democratic revival.

The state Party leaders -- who play a pivotal role within the DNC -- understand the importance of the DNC Chair. They have helped to make the election process more transparent, by inviting candidates for Chair to a public forum at their meeting. And for the first time, they are considering endorsing a candidate en masse. If they vote as a bloc, they could determine the next Chair. They represent all of us who knocked on doors, who gave money, who made phone calls -- and it's time for us to weigh in.

The movement for change that we built during the last election is still gathering strength. We need leadership that will break the chains of corporate funding so we can fight -- really fight -- for a better America.

Thank you for all that you do,

--Eli Pariser, Justin Ruben, and the whole MoveOn PAC team
  December 9, 2004

¹ The Democratic National Committee is the organizational structure of the national Democratic Party. The chair is elected by the approximately 440 voting members of the DNC, who include state Party officials, elected Democrats from all levels of government, and representatives of Party caucuses like the Young Democrats of America and the National Federation of Democratic Women. The election for DNC chair will take place in February, and state Party officials control between one-quarter and one-third of the votes that are likely to be cast. This weekend, they are meeting to hear from a number of candidates for Chair. They may or may not make an endorsement at their meeting, but they have announced plans to do so at some point.

² "The Next DNC Chair: Why You Should Care," syndicated column by Arianna Huffington, December 8, 2004. Online at:
https://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/column.php?id=748

PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC www.moveonpac.org
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

---

For years, the Party has been lead by elite Washington insiders who are closer to corporate lobbyists than they are to the Democratic base. But we can't afford four more years of leadership by a consulting class of professional election losers. In the last year, grassroots contributors like us gave more than $300 million to the Kerry campaign and the DNC, and proved that the Party doesn't need corporate cash to be competitive.² Now it's our Party: we bought it, we own it, and we're going to take it back.

Transcript of Dean Speech

Update: Here's a link to a REAL audio version.

From :