The way the party had been doing things for years...picking key states that might win and ignoring those they thought could not...had left many parties in serious condition. I knew things had been bad here in Florida financially, and funds were given by the DNC.
But until I read this post at The Next Hurrah, I had no idea how bad.
I posted about it before, but now that MONEY seems once again to be the main factor by which all are judged...time to remember.
Backstory on Carville and Dean...Next HurrahHave had a nice Thai meal, some nice red wine, and I am still irritated at James Carville, and in the mood for storytelling.
Now to my knowledge Mr. Carville is not a delegate from Virginia (where he lives and votes), and he does not represent any constitutant group. He is, simply put, not part of the DNC and is irrelevant as to whom they should select as their National Chair. Nor has he participated in any deliberations of the committees or commissions of the DNC over the past two years where the program of the DNC was authorized.
And now to the conditions of the state parties:
I had discovered how pathetic many of our state parties actually were. Many were literally bankrupt, the office supplies and machines (typewriters) had been taken for unpaid debt, and padlocks were on the door. The State Committees that had the franchise were held in one or another lawyer's file cabinet, (In Georgia it had been Bert Lance's for about 20 years), and the reason for this condition was frankly racism. The Southern States would not allow the release of the franchise to a newly elected Central Committee or Board, because it would be Black. They could do this because the parties were in bankruptcy, and whatever lawyer had the letterhead in his files was also the court appointed trustee.
....."When Dean took over the DNC -- this was the condition of about twelve of our State Parties. He actually had to find lawyers to go into court and get the parties out of this kind of "Trusteeship" before he could even begin to reorganize. In fact, one of the reasons some of the Field Organizers Dean appointed are on the staff of the DNC rather than state parties is because it avoids dealing with old trustees and old court judgments."
This next statement by the author really surprised me because I had no idea it was going on.
According to reporting on KO, Hillary Clinton's office is saying they did not "sign off" on the Carville attack on Dean. As Keith said, that is a bit nuanced, and it needs follow up. The language of "sign off" bothers.Indeed the ultimate question is whether local party organizations can select their own representatives or whether that power will be taken away from the state parties by the DSCC and the DCCC who substitute themselves (as elected officials) for the party organization or the DNC and what creates it. That is what is at stake."
And she points out that the rebuilding and structuring must be done before the next nomination period.
The sad thing is that so many do not understand that now is the time to deal with this matter -- before the contest for nomination begins. Wait till you have a presidential candidate or a president, and that is too late. It has to be part of the early bargain.
I don't think I need to point out that doing things this way, giving some money and power back to states that were deprived of it for years is not going to please some of the 08 candidates...and it will not please many of the leaders of the party.
It is easier for them to decide things among themselves without the involvemnent of the grassroots/netroots/nutroots. The "smoke-filled room" works better for those who want to make easy decisions.
In August Howard Dean is even heading to Pocatello, Idaho. This article shows they are excited and happy about it. That is what he said he was going to do.
Howard Dean visit set''I think it's fantastic. It shows Idaho is important to the Democratic party,'' he said. ''Democrats can win here like they have done before and will do again.'' Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Richard Stallings, of Pocatello, said Dean's appearance will draw attention to Southeast Idaho and help state and local Democrats raise money.
...."Jacob Haeberle, acting chairman for the Bannock County Democrats, believes Dean's visit says a great deal about the strength of the Democratic party in Bannock County. ''I think it's an empowering and invigorating event that shows that the national party recognizes the potential of a state like Idaho,'' Haeberle said.
It is also time to remember that our candidates are sucking up the money into their deep deep coffers....but maybe some will see the need to build for the future. Maybe not.
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