Howard Dean — the current chairman of the Democratic National Committee, former presidential candidate, and ex-physician — took ten questions from everyday Americans in the most recent issue of Time. They didn't hold much back! Here are some of the highlights:
Why does the Democratic Party have superdelegates? The initial purpose was to encourage officeholders to come to the convention, which they did not do in 1980 when there was a battle between President [Jimmy] Carter and Senator [Ted] Kennedy over the nomination. We've had them for 25 years for that reason.
Would you support an effort to create a single nationwide primary day? Absolutely not. I think we do need to condense the schedule, but I also think that if you have them on a single day, it's like having a national election. We learn a lot about these candidates as they go through all these states.
Do you favor the elimination of the Electoral College? Yes.
To find out his reasoning why, read more.
It's unrepresentative of where the American people are. It was fine for the days of the Pony Express, but it's not necessary to avoid a popular vote on Presidents now.
People disapprove of the job Congress is doing. Does that mean the gains made in the 2006 election will be lost in 2008? No. The public clearly agrees with Democrats on the major issues of the economy, the war and health care, and I think they feel very frustrated that the Republicans are preventing any of the reforms that the public wanted in 2006 from going into effect.
To find out what Chairman Dean has to say about his hands-off approach as DNC chairman, the candidate's healthcare plans, and the Dean Scream, check out the article. Do you think Dean could be doing more to steer the Democratic Party back into the White House?
Aftershock
Haburi
Jimmy Choo
Love it! If you can't win, change the rules!
1Do you think Dean could be doing more to steer the Democratic Party back into the White House?
I think if they want to win they should steer clear of the eccentrics, like Dean, that they have gathered company with over the years. The Dean Scream pretty much did him in, in my opinion.
2same goes for Republicans by the way.
3Um, yeah, it's all the Republicans fault in congress, we don't ever do anything wrong. We're always right. The public always agrees with us. Drink our kool aid...
4I thought that line was funny too... "The public clearly agrees with Democrats on the major issues of the economy, the war and health care"
Uh huh.. and thats why you won the election in 2004... ohhhhh wait!
Dean is such a blowhard.
5yeah the public clearly agrees...
it reminds me of people on blogs who say "I have a Master's degree so, the public clearly agrees with me..."
6
Don't forget the second half of that statment sy, "If you disagree with me, it's because you
just aren't educated."
7So true!
8you is stupid!
9actually the public does agree with the democrats... thats why after 2004 (which, remember, was only a year and a half after the war in iraq began), in 2006, the democrats won a ton of seats in congress and the house... to get us out of the pointless war.
that's also why bush has the highest disapproval/lowest approval rating of any president in a bazillion years, and thats also why the numbers of democrats coming out to vote in the primaries has almost doubled republicans in just about every state.
do you guys really think america is happy right now?
10you and rac are seriously in a s.f. bubble. I mean seriously.
Just because people may be unsatisfied with Bush or the war doesn't mean the "public clearly agrees" with Democrat's views on the economy and health care.
come on.
11i think the general public does agree that there have been some serious screw-ups when it comes to the economy... they are angry that while they are paying over $4.00 a gallon for gas, the oil companies are making record profits. they are also angry that in many cases their health insurance is competing with their house payment/rent.
yes, i live in the bay area - but i watch the national news and this is a no-brainer. again, do you actually know people who are happy about the economy and the current state of health care in this country?
all of the guns, god & gays stuff aside... i think democrats are going to win in the fall because that old adage is true "it's the economy, stupid".
12Just because the general public thinks that there have been "serious screw-ups when it comes to the economy" does not mean that they all think that the Democrats can fix that. I, for one, do not.
133 democrats won Republican controlled congressional seats recently. Louisiana Democrat Don Cazayoux won a U.S. House seat that Republicans had held for more than 20 years, they also won a seat in Mississippi, and I can't quite remember the other one.
I think there
is enough there with public opinion polls and such to suggest that the country is leaning left a bit right now.
Also, his comment about Congress is correct. The democrats don't have a true majority, especially with conservative Lieberman in there. They haven't been able to get the democratic priorities done because of this.
14Syako, I think it was a bit unfair to use yesteryear's location against her. All parts of the nation have their "bubble" aspects, and it could apply to you just the same.
15people are not satisfied with the status-quo. they want something different. that's how we vote in this country. yes there are republicans who will vote along party lines no matter what - but it's looking like a lot of new voters are going to make their way to the polls this november and i seriously doubt they are awakening from their slumber in order to keep a republican in the white house.
16It's true that we all have bubble aspects, but SF is frighteningly far left.
17thanks jillness... but i'm used to it by now.
people like to write off california
and the bay area as just a bunch of liberal hippies, but the fact is this is one of the most highly educated and culturally diverse parts of the country. our "craziness" often gets media
coverage - but our region is in many ways representative of the nation as a whole. and for the record, i live in the east bay - not SF proper.
18Can anyone explain to me how the conservative minority is keeping business from being done in Congress?
In just one year. Remember the election in 2006? Thought you might like to read the following:
A little over one year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%.
Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we have seen:
1) Consumer confidence plummet;
2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon;
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 1 0% increase);
4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
America voted for change in 2006, and we got it!
Remember, it's Congress that makes law not the President.
He has to work with what's handed to him.
Quote of the Day........"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it." -- Barack Obama
Taxes...Whether Democrat or a Republican you will find these statistics enlightening and amazing.
www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html
Taxes under Clinton Taxes under Bush 2008
19Single making 30K - tax $8,400 Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K - tax $16,800 Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $38,750 Married making 125K - tax $31,250
Yesteryear, I completely agree that people are not satisfied with the status quo. I think MANY politicians on both sides are out of touch with the American people, and what a lot of people would like to change is the mentality that these politicians have. They feel that they are in touch, but they are not. However, saying that I am dissatisfied with the status quo doesn't mean that I agree with the Democrats or with Democratic ideals, and I really think that many people feel that same way.
20i completely agree with your assertions yesteryear.
however, you can never rule out the kind of voters who voted for bush twice.
it is scary, but i think many of these voters only vote on single issues that revolve around their deep-set prejudices (i.e., abortion, race, gay). i am not sure that many of these voters look at the "big picture" and can put aside their religious beliefs (or bigoted feelings) to vote for someone who will improve america in terms of the economy and health care.
and before all you right-wingers jump all over my back, i am talking about a specific set of bigoted voters (some republican and some democrat). if you fall into this category, then i don't care if i offend you at all.
21Well I just think it's very presumptuous to assume that since you are unhappy with things, that everyone must feel the same way. And that the people that hang out with you on a daily basis think and have the same/similar opinions as you then it's "clear that the public agrees"
Also Jill I said this before, the reason Cazouyx (pro-gun and pro-life democrat, might I add) won was because he was up against a racist and known friend of the KKK. I don't think that says a whole lot. But that's just me.
22Well some places are also "frighteningly" far right...so that all depends on what is "frightening" to you...
Also, I'm not the biggest Dean fan, but obviously he's going to say stuff that will support his party. He's not going to stand there and take responsibility for everything that's gone wrong in this country lately, and I don't think he should.
23"it is scary, but i think many of these voters only vote on single issues that revolve around their deep-set prejudices (i.e., abortion, race, gay). i am not sure that many of these voters look at the "big picture" and can put aside their religious beliefs (or bigoted feelings) to vote for someone who will improve america in terms of the economy and health care."
I know what you're talking about (and yes this applies to both republicans and democrats that I know). My mom's friend voted for Bush solely on his pro-life stance, which...I don't know. Take a look around. There are more issues than abortion when it comes to presidential elections. Don't even get me started on what I think about abortion in a political light...
24In a country where all issues end up being polarized and lumped into one of two camps, I have little confidence that one party or the other will be able to come through for the majority of citizens. What kind of distinct resolutions can we really expect when public opinions regularly fall into something like, 51/49%?
Also, I don't buy the blame game on who gets stuff done in Congress. Each party has their own statistics showing that they accomplished more, and what a waste of ink and breath! All I hear is blame, outright villification, and no one willing to bend from their position.
25i wasn't talking about me and my friends! that's boring! i'm talking about the entire country. people are unhappy. please look around. bush is a joke and even people who voted for him are coming around now and admitting it. bashing his presidency and the things he did in office has even become a cottage industry! and yes, there are people out there who will blindly vote for whichever party is going to keep people from "killin' all them babies", but there will have to be a serious upset in the race - or some kind of world event/disaster to knock the democrats out of the lead this fall. sorry!
with warmest regards,
26a san francisco liberal and realist
I really feel like saying "'killin' all them babies'" is trivializing someone's very real, very educated stance on abortion. Not my own, not every Republican's, but there are educated people who are pro life. There are also people who vote for a Democrat simply because they are pro choice. Is that any better/worse than voting for a Republican because they are pro life?
27I just don't see how you, Dean, or even me can say sweeping generalizations like "people are unhappy" without knowing and having talked to every person.
PRESUMPTUOUS. again.
28it seems the same to me Tiff. same with voting straight ticket becuase you're against gay marriage, or for it. everyone has issues that they find most important, whether or not we think they are uneducated decisions.
29It's very presumptuous, Sy. I'm tired of hearing this kind of stuff from both directions.
30I have a hard time commenting on stuff like this because I get so caught up in frustration over the generalized, sweeping, presumptuous statements that I can't think clearly.
I do think it is very presumptuous to say that Republicans vote the party line. Not all republicans do this, and you can't say that Democrats never do this.
I can say that I agree with Tiff, Syako and Kris on the points they've made.
I so would love to be a part of the group and partake in the conversations both fun and serious, but I'm just not as good at this kind of thing as you all are.
31"Can anyone explain to me how the conservative minority is keeping business from being done in Congress?"
One word: VETO
The dems don't have a veto proof majority.
32i was saying that SOME republicans will vote the party line. and the baby killing was a joke - i was making fun of people who don't even understand what it is they are voting for or against. people have a right to be anti-abortion even if i don't agree with it.
and it's really impossible to speak with every single person in the country about their feelings on the state of affairs we are in before making a statement about the general sentiment among americans right now. it's silly to even bring that up. that's NEVER going to happen. that's why we vote. otherwise we'd do a census every 4 years to get a new president. now I'M the one saying "come on".
33oh and one more thing - i still haven't seen any examples of people who are happy about things right now. please enlighten me!
34Kim, we definitely want you to participate. I hesitate many times to make comments, too- partly because I get so angry at some things and partly because I feel the same as you- just that I'm not very good at making really smart/informed comments. But, really I like reading everyone's comments, so don't hold back!
35i second tiff's comment - jump in any time. but beware, there are crazy liberals in here who might inject you with a gay syringe and make you want to listen to NPR!!!!
36we love having you, Kim! I don't always feel that my way of putting things is exactly brilliant. I hesitate a lot before I click "post."
YY, I agree with you on people not being happy about things. I am not happy about a lot of things. I just don't see how I can stand back and blame one "side" or give another side all the credit for ruining or saving everything. I truly respect your opinion though.
37Thanks everyone.
Kris - I agree with you, we can't blame just one side. And the longer we continue to do that, the longer the problems will exist. I really think we need to reach across party lines and see both sides views and stop worrying about party loyalty etc. it's just so dumb to me.
38LOL is it bad that I had to look up what NPR was?
39no Kim, acronyms suck! and as I age, all the space in my brain that is taken up by acronyms is leaving little room for regular brain cells. so many letters to remember!!
40I still think he looks like Steve Carrell in The Office.
41LOL Kris
Stiletta, Steve Carrell is much cuter!! Dean just looks dorky.
42And that picture of him is just horrible also. No one should be allowed to photograph someone else mid sentence.
Regarding the veto, that just means the dems need to work with the republicans and compromise. It's pretty easy when we work together. The problem is no one wants to work together anymore.
43" just that I'm not very good at making really smart/informed comments."
I beg to differ!
Have no fear. We all step in it once in a while, and we all make
great points once in a while! We are a pretty forgiving bunch, and different opinions are always welcome. It gets very boring when we all agree! 
I am not a big Dean fan by any means...I think he hasn't been a leader during this crazy primary season, and the MI FL thing needed to be thought out much more.
44Thanks Jill!
This site would definitely not be as exciting if we all agreed!
45"It's true that we all have bubble aspects, but SF is frighteningly far left." You know what I have to say to that UnDave....BOO! Did I scare ya?
46As for the electoral college I believe it should be amended but not tossed. It would be nice to go by a popular vote but the only danger there is you would have your most populus state California leaning the sway in every National election by a mile on some issues. Then you'll have the California haters band wagon and so on and so on.
47
48Hypno - we already got the California haters. This would be just one more thing to hate Californians for...
49Dave, you've got hates on for lots of people today.
50Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.