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demoleft's Journal - EuroDem from Italy
Posted by demoleft in General Discussion: Presidential
Fri Aug 31st 2007, 03:24 AM
I see from many threads and posts here that the Primary Elections are causing struggles and divisions in the Democratic Party.
I worry about that.
Though it is common during the Primaries, I would not go as far in the struggle as to lose sight of your common target: to win Presidency and put Reps out of office.

In 2005 we, Italian progressives, had a similar situation.
This is what happened in Italy, the world's political laboratory where every Mr.Hyde may come to life...

Berlusconi's centre-right government was at the lowest rates of popularity. Italy was not growing. There was uncertainty about the future and wide dissatisfaction with the rightist coalition - and the failure of the Iraqi mission was already clear.

Centre-left had been winning in all the regional elections.

Months before 2006 Prodi's coalition could count on a 5% at least of advantage over Berlusconi.
The papers rejoiced in it - I mean: they rejoiced in provoking the centre-left allies, collecting irritating statements about the future.

Berlusconi & Co. started provoking the left allies - in any TV program: on foreign policies, on ethics, on welfare. They wanted to highlight divisions and provoke mutual dissatisfaction in the left coalition.
The former PM finally made unexpected declarations about tax cuts - just some days before the vote.

Polls were all for Prodi. The centre-left coalition was too confident. The leaders started to discuss about the future - and lost sight of the present, which is fatal for a politician's credibility.

Prodi finally won with just a +20000/25000 votes! Berlusconi had recovered 5% in just few weeks - thanks to communication and to hostility in the progressive coalition. Our government was born (and is at present) feeble and weak.

You Dems don't make this mistake. It's a common one in sport: when you are on a playground and think you've already won the match - that's the moment you risk more to lose.

BUSHers are strong, they have resources. A good brilliant Rep candidate may appear more reliable than a Dem one - if the latter has given away too much energy in defending herself/himself from allies.

Remember always you haven't won yet. Don't move the target from Republicans to allied Democrats, don't waste energy: keep united.
You have to elect a good Dem President for the good of your Country and for the good of the world.
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Howard Dean in Italy, April 2007
Dean invited at the last Congress of the Italian Democratic of the Left party (DS), that is going to dissolve and create, with progressive partners, the Democratic Party in Italy.

As leader of the Democratic Party in the USA, he said, I congratulate with you for your decision to create a new Party. This is a really historical moment for the Italian people. The Democratic Party in Italy will grant a more stable progressive government and to the American democrats will mean a bigger partner in Europe.

Dean recalled the Italian history, culture, cuisine (!) and sport, mostly our soccer team (“azzurri”, we are world champions since last July - let me say!)

Comparing the work made in Italy by DS and Margherita (Daisy) in creating the strongest core of the UNIONE, the alliance that defeated Berlusconi, and the effort made by the American Democratic Party, he said that USA democrats made the decision of uniting to defeat the far republican right wing. United, added Dean, working hard we won in 2006: today we are majority at the Congress and Senate.

He remembered Nancy Pelosi, of Italian origin, and the teachings in governance of Bill Clinton and his efforts to give USA a new profile in the world. A word for France to make a step forward was spent: an indirect “good luck” to Segolene Royal, the socialist candidate as President.

Really appreciated by the DS delegates was the portrait of the future democratic America: it’s time to leave Iraq, said he, and it’s time to change USA relationships with the rest of the world. According to Dean, we have to fight for the respect of human and civil rights. A new political course is necessary with the Muslim world: it’s going to take a long time but a bridge with the Muslim people who work on democratic efforts in their countries must be built.

On Global warming he said it is an actual matter and the poorest are the ones who will pay the highest price. To negate the problem is useless, USA must work with Europe to solve this problem.

The progressive parties unite, told Dean, because they are parties of the “we”. The right wing parties are parties of the “I”. The power doesn’t belong to us, he added, it’s only lent to us. So must we always communicate with the people both in traditional and new ways.

I can say, we democratic of the left enjoyed the words very much!
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