I just read that Old Yeller himself, H. Dean has been chosen to lead the Democratic party. For the Democratic Dopers: Are you pleased with this decision or do you think it is bad for your party?
Please keep in mind this is IMHO and not the pit.
It’ll be a while before I can really say if I’m happy or not. The party definitely needed someone who wasn’t already ‘in’ with the Beltway crowd, and who was a true progressive who wants to change the world, rather than someone who sees the party as simply one of several possible paths to power.
However, I won’t be at all surprised if the ‘old guard’ fills his tenure with so many obstacles that nothing changes. Dean may not be able to work with the type that is into politics for the game rather than for the higher goals he lives for. If that sort of obsructionism breaks out, I’ll wish they’d brought on more of a compromiser. I’ll hate having to wish that, but we need the party to continue to move forward.
I’d prefer Kucinich. I echo the sentiments about the ‘old guard’.
No. He doesn’t presents the right party image. While I admire his progressive principles, I don’t feel he has the right temperament.
Sure, why not? I like his politics and think the stupid yelling thing from last year was just stupid and equivalent to the idiots that harp about Bush mispronouncing nuclear.
My apologies. It was a joke - not meant to harp, honest! I’m more interested in whether people think he is the right man, not whether people think the yelling thing was bad.
ditto
I’ll tell you in two years. I don’t see why he couldn’t do a good job; he has a demonstrated ability to attack problems in new ways. Whether they’re the right ways or not, we’ll have to wait and see.
I’ve no objection - I am glad Webb didn’t get it.
That wasn’t directed towards you – calling him Old Yeller actually made me laugh a bit – but at the people who honestly think he’s too exuberant.
I liked Dean and admired his pioneering efforts at grass-roots fund-raising.
But the goal of the party should be to get back into power, not to continue to shrink. The party has a great story to tell about morality and compassion. But they’ve allowed the GOP to co-opt the morality issue via P. T. Barnum-style pandering, while at the same time giving away the store.
As much as I like Dean, I don’t see him wrestling the party back to where it needs to be to win elections.
I’ll tell you in a couple years, but at this point I am cautiously optimistic. After the election I was furious with the Democratic party; they really let me down. A change of direction is needed, and I guess I’ve got somewhat high hopes for Dean.
I am happy. Howard Dean raised money over the internet. A party chairman is responsible for raising money.
I’m glad. It was just a bit of word play on the spur of the moment and I was not trying to offend. 
I’m all in favor of it. His strength is in building grass roots organizations, and the Democratic party needs those throughout the country right now.
I’m all for it. See this GD thread: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=301544
I’m all for it.
Think about it. In 2002 and parts of 2003, who had heard of Howard Dean? Yet he was able to mobilize parts of the Democrats and Independents enough to be an honest-to-God threat to John Kerry, until the scream (which, really, can’t hurt the Democrats much now, aside from a joke or two by Right-Wing pundits), and Kerry’s insider machine knocked him out. He understands the importance of new ways of raising money and awareness (the Democrats are still at least a decade behind the GOP in that respect) and mobilizing the youth.
If nothing else, it’ll shake thing up.
Like others in the thread, I’m cautiously optimistic.
I’m very happy with it. I elaborated on my reasons in the GD thread, but basically:
–Dean was an outsider as recently as a year ago, and now he’s the party chairman. If nothing else, this means they recognize that what they’re doing isn’t working and they’re willing to try something new.
–The two things that the Democrats need to do, IMO, is to further distinguish themselves from the Republicans and to organize themselves more effectively at the grassroots level and on up. These are exactly the two things that Dean did in the election.
The idea that Dean is an ultraliberal has no basis in fact, and is a testament to the power of the right-wing media machine (as was the big deal made of the “scream”).
His appointment’s not a big deal, but I never thought much of any of the 2004 primary candidates. I’m fairly ambivalent.
I am very happy!
Dean would have made a great President. But as DNC, he will do what he does best - kick ass.
One of the biggest problems with the Democratic Party is they are too damned “nice” for their own good. It is that fine line between being liberal, but afraid to step on any toes.
Dean is going to stamp on some toes, and it is about time.
He is also smart enough to get behind some people with balls who will go out there and win some seats in local and state elections. They will be the ones who get the grass roots motivated again. They will be the elected officials who finally start to motivate the people who declare themselves Dems, but don’t bother to vote.