State Dems oust leader - Chris Gates buh bye

[otohara]

Months after their historic wins in November, Colorado Democrats have ousted party chairman Chris Gates in an upset organized by activists angered by his handling of Mike Miles' failed bid for the U.S. Senate.

Pat Waak - a nonprofit director from Erie who is little-known in statewide political circles - narrowly edged out Gates in a final vote of 187 to 184 during Saturday's meeting of the Democratic State Central Committee.

Gates is challenging the outcome because he said ballot counters threw out on a technicality seven votes cast for him by members not in attendance Saturday. Party staffers were unclear Saturday night about what specifically was wrong with those ballots.

"There was a misunderstanding on the part of the staff about how the proxies were to be handled. I owe it to the people who voted for me to see that all of their votes count," said Gates, who plans to pursue his challenge within the party but not in court.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33999~2747528,00.html

[napi21]

1. Geesh! We can't even agree on how our own votes are to be counted!!!

I don't know anythin about Colorado politics, or which one of these candidates would be best for the Party, but this vote counting stuff has to stop!

I realize we are hampered in our ability to correct the voting process nationally, but for God sake, can't we fix it within our own Party???

[madhat]

2. He's icky

I shed no tears.

[otohara]

3. Loved How He Took Full Credit

for Colorado dem wins in 2000. Had it not been for Mike Miles energizing many dems to jump in, I think the outcome would have been GOP as usual. Gates was against Miles from day one.

[DaveinMD]

5. dumping a guy

who engineered historic electoral victory in Colorado is insane. You fire people for losing elections, not winning them. What idiocy.

[otohara]

34. Explain To Me What Chris Gates Did

to win this election? If I type slower will that help you understand why CO went dem this year? It had nothing to do with Gates and everything to do Mike Miles.

Gates is up to his old shit again today, calling the winner and her supporters "and odd group" "parainoid". What a baby!

[DaveinMD]

37. Let's go through this

Gates helped to orchestrate a fundraising and spending strategy that ensured the Democratic Party was not hamstrung by the strict fundraising limits in Colorado. In fact, Democrats outspent Republicans in the state's election. That is unprecentented. He deserves great credit for that.

Gates set in motion the events that led to Campbell not running again. He blasted Campbell about his ethical lapses when no one else was talking about them. This led to him retiring, which led directly to us winning that Senate race.

Working together with the leadership in the state house and senate, he helped to orchestrate great victories by making sure money was spent in proper places.

Miles gets no credit. A guy who couldn't win a Democratic Primary gets no credit for general election victories. He's a bomb thrower and nothing else. He was a weak candidate. That's why he wasn't supported. He got his revenge, but that doesn't change the fact that he was weak.

Gates called the Waak group paranoid because her first act was to change the locks. I think he was dead on right.

[otohara]

38. Oh Okay

believe what you want - Gates was a divider from the get go, that's why he's out. He made it very clear that he wanted no part of Miles, his supporters with his childish name calling. Reminiscent of the spew coming from you in regards to Miles. No one expected Miles to win, but he sure did energize many and when he lost, he graciously supported Salazar.

Why is Chris Gates so afraid of liberals? Liberals helped win Colorado and yet he still continues to bad mouth liberals.

According to Waak, the DNC told her to do the lock change. Sounds like good advice considering the way Gates is behaving. I know I wouldn't want the group I just beat in a contested race having access to computers, files, etc... any good CEO/boss would do the same thing.

[DaveinMD]

39. yeah Gates

was going to go into the office and steal the files and computers. That is paranoia. Gates did what Party chairs are supposed to do--win elections. Its a shame. Great things were ahead for the party there. Now there is just a lot of uncertainty.

[coloradodem2005]

41. I thought I read that Gates supported Dean for President.

In the early days. At least it said that somewhere on the Colorado Democrats website. Also endorsed Dean for chair when Webb dropped out of the race.

[F.Gordon]

40. Okay. I lied "I'll say no more on this subject...."

They changed the fucking locks???? :shakinghead:

Did the Waak Group let Gates get his Coffee Mug? This is starting to sound more like a hostile corporate takeover rather than a change in Party leadership.

What next? Do we have to sign a loyalty oath?

[Grunt69]

44. Move on

Paranoid and odd, eh? Let me think where I've heard that before! Anyone ever think to allow Waak a chance to do the job. Is there a chance she'll fail? Of course, but only time will tell!! It's time to support the Party and help in moving it on to better things.

[newyawker99]

53. Hi Grunt69!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DaveinMD]

9. he's not icky

he knows how to win elections. Why would you want that in a Party chair:eyes:

[rockymountaindem]

4. Is this a good idea?

It seems to me that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I don't know much about state politics though. I am concerned, however, that now that the Republicans have lost the majority they'll be extra energized to get it back in '06, especially with the Governorship on the line. I think they were resting on their laurels and were taken by surprise this time. We'll have to work even harder next time, and without the guy who got it done this time. I'm worried.

[DaveinMD]

6. its horrendous

Chris was a great Chair who was integral in implementing a winning campaign strategy. Republicans are happy tonight.

[rockymountaindem]

8. On the face of it, it sounds pretty freakin' stupid.

Why fire someone who just won you the biggest victory in 40 years? That Mike Miles seems pretty good at staging party coups, though. Remember when he won the state Senate nominating convention by surprise, so that his name would be first on the ballot in the primary against Salazar.

How the hell do these things happen? We sack our party chair because of lingering bitterness from a group that could never have succeeded in our rather conservative state? I fear the Republicans will be back with a vengance in '06 with the Governorship on the line.

On edit: If any Miles supporters can justify this, please do so. I'd be interested in hearing your side.

[F.Gordon]

12. How bout' what Mike has to say?

"If any Miles supporters can justify this, please do so. I'd be interested in hearing your side"

......
"The divisions in the Party, not unlike those at the national level, have to do with the degree to which the Party leadership will foster the grassroots and the degree to which the Party leadership will speak out on traditional democratic values and issues. These are real concerns and have no easy answers. Indeed, the leadership and political insiders have always understood that grassroots activism, while important for mobilization, may work against a cohesive message.

Chris Gates lost because he refused to acknowledge these core concerns. To say that he lost because of my supporters or the "Be the Change" organization, I believe, oversimplifies the outcome and has the potential of creating even greater divisions.

Pat Waak won because the majority of the Party believed she would be able to build bridges between the various parts of the Party, including with the numerous grassroots and progressive organizations that cropped up during the last election cycle. She won because she has the diplomatic and organizational skills to address the core concerns mentioned above."

This fucking jerk runs a sour grapes "Support Pat" campaign and then he back peddles and says it's just an "oversimplification". No Mike, it's not.

The hypocrisy of all this is so profound on so many levels.

[rockymountaindem]

14. So then how did everyone allow this to happen?

I can't figure this out. Not to keep asking for explanations, but this blows my mind.

[F.Gordon]

16. Voter Fraud?

:crazy:

The proxy votes were delivered by an non-eligible voter.

On Edit: Hypocrisy #8 "Count every vote". I guess what's good for the Goose isn't good for the....

[rockymountaindem]

19. Can that be fixed?

[F.Gordon]

20. Have no idea

:shrug:

You'd think it could be.

[coloradodem2005]

23. What role did Miles have in it?

I should have been keeping up. Did he run her campaign?

[CODem]

24. Miles's Role

Mike Miles gave a strong endorsement to Pat Waak and his supporters rallied behind her.

[F.Gordon]

31. Sorry, missed this. Couldn't follow the posting lines

From the original link.....

"He created lots of obstacles," said Miles, who distributed a letter Saturday supporting Waak and citing "disturbing evidence" about Gates' record.

..and..

Gathering at Lakewood’s Mile High Inn, the workshop kicked off at 2:00 p.m. with insipring speeches from Winter and former U.S. Senate candidate Mike Miles of Colorado Springs. Also speaking was State Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon. Next were two breakout sessions on communications and Democratic Party organization. Then dinner was served, and short talks were presented by state Rep. Morgan Carroll, State Sen. Ron Tupa, and environmental activist Pat Waak. Miles closed the event at 8:30 p.m.

“Be the Change” was the banner carried by the Miles campaign. It derives from Mahatma Gandhi’s exhortation, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Be the Change USA was created in September 2004 by a group of core members of the Mike Miles for Senate campaign. Miles lost in the Democratic primary on August 10 to now Senator Ken Salazar. “We believed that even though we no longer had a candidate, we still had a cause. We wanted to further that cause. Be The Change USA is a unique blend of progressive idealism and pragmatic problem solving,” Davis concluded.

http://btc-usa.org/content/view/38/70/

On Edit: (2 days later)...

I am announcing today, January 19, 2005, that I am a candidate for Chair of the Colorado State Democratic Party.

http://www.patwaak.com/

And the Home Page for btc-usa.org.......

Breaking News! Pat Waak elected Chair of Democratic Party!

I'm probably reading too much into all of this.
:shrug:

[coloradodem2005]

32. I hope she is able to keep things going.

But, this does seem like a coup d'etat. I thought Miles was inspiring and charismatic at first, but I am coming to the conclusion that he has his ego to satisfy. That in the end it is all about him. It just seems too ideologically bound. And while I am a liberal Deaniac, Miles never appealed to me, because I think Dean was more pragmatic. And Dean cared about more than himself. I am sick of narrow ideology, regardless of which side it is on and I am sick of sour grapes.

[F.Gordon]

7. Any news, info.....rumors?

I hope this doesn't stand. The repukes will destroy Pat and the State Party. Realized this weekend that I wasn't over reacting when I expressed concern over the Kucinich delegates at the Dem convention. Guess bush* isn't the only one who enjoys exploiting "political capital".

Payback for Miles. How mature. :eyes: Good thing the "grown-ups" aren't in charge anymore...

Local media spin is already setting the tone for this. It's NOT good news. Now, more than ever, the Democrats in this State needed to stand united. Oh well, maybe getting Democrats elected to office isn't the goal here. Is there a memo I missed?
:shrug:

[otohara]

35. Gates Is Calling New People "Odd Group" & "Paranoid"

and he wonders why he's out! Oh and he's calling the DNC, crying whaa, whaa... help me, proxie votes weren't counted...

[CODem]

42. What will Pat Waak do to get Dems elected

Otohara,

You have made your dissatisfaction with Chris Gates very clear. Let's look ahead over the next three years and move on.

Please inform us how Pat Waak intends to unify the party, help raise sufficient funds for the '06 election, and identify strong candidates. By the way, how much money did she raise for the party before becoming party chair? Which candidates did she recruit in 2004?

Also, I saw a posting urging Mike Miles to run against Mark Udall for the Senate in 2008. Is this what the Waak victory means? Running quixotic primary campaigns against the strongest and most experienced Democrats in the state? If Udall is not ideologically pure enough for the Mike Miles faction, does that mean that the party will condone primary challengers to Udall, John Salazar, and Diana DeGette next year?

What exactly does Waak intend to do at the helm of the party?

[otohara]

45. Waak

Dear CODem,
Let's allow Ms Waak get settled into her new position before assuming she is incapable of doing anything but promoting Mike Miles.

By the way, was it Ms. Waak's duty to raise money for the party before becoming party chair, or recruit candidates prior to 2004? What did Chris Gates do before he became party chair, did he raise money, recruit candidates? Or are you just throwing snarky remarks my way for your enjoyment?

Gates lost - according to Colorado Pols....Gates was killed in the end by an inattention to detail when seven proxy ballots in his favor that would have given him a four vote victory were ruled ineligible because they were not delivered by an eligible voter. Waak supporters should be commended for being diligent in their vote counting and organizing efforts, whereas Gates realized too late that he was in trouble and couldn't make up ground.

To answer your questions, I sugest you read the following statement by Ms Waak.

From the desk of Pat Waak

Dear Democrat:

The Colorado Democratic Party's strength and vitality rests on its diversity and inclusiveness. Now more than ever we need to empower ourselves by reaching for a new level of citizen participation.

As state party chair I will

# open the door of the Democratic Party and bring diverse groups together as one party

# reach out to the community and train the people to participate in the party process

As state party chair I will

# nurture the grassroots and involve them in the planning process

# stimulate more dialogue between state party officials and the county chairs, precincts and other organized community groups.

# identify needs and implement training

# strengthen county structures through education and other means of support

As state party chair I will

# encourage and support our candidates by keeping the party impartial and provide training and other support

# strengthen the local districts so that we build support for our state legislators

# convene dialogue between the county committees and the legislators to identify and promote candidates for empty seats

Finally, as state party chair, I will send out the message that the Democratic Party stands for

# increasing the visibility for our concerns for those issues that cross party lines

# articulating our goals for education, health care and economic security through community forums

# convincing the public that we are the party that has always initiated and promoted programs that support them, their community and their environment

I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at your county reorganization meetings which will be taking place over the next two weeks. Together we can build bridges within the Democratic Party that will create a strong, vibrant and inclusive state party. I appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Pat Waak
4225 County Road 1-1/2
Erie, Colorado 80516
303/828-0612

[CODem]

46. To set the record straight

I am not attempting to make a case for Chris Gates, who was simply outorganized and outhustled. I simply note that Gates, like other Colorado Democratic party chairs (with the possible exception of Phil Perrington), had a long history of helping the party with fundraising and organization prior to securing election to the top job.

I am certainly willing to give Pat Waak an opportunity to prove herself. I am concerned, however, that she lacks a track record in the areas on which she will need to focus as party chair -- fundraising, party organization, and candidate recruitment.

I am told that, at last weekend's Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner, she did not even know how to pronounce the names of the Democratic elected officials, or Rico Munn's office. She has a lot to master in a very short period of time.

I truly wish her well -- there is much riding on her success.

[coloradodem2005]

10. Chris Gates may not have been perfect.

But he got the job done. I realize that the state party did short change Mike Miles and I do think it is unfair. But politics is not fair. If we want the state party to be united, we need to stop making sour grapes about it.

Working for Salazar, I felt that there were some sour grapes on the part of the Miles people. But here was the reality as I see it. The alternatives for the Senate seat were NEVER Salazar and Miles. They were Salazar and Coors. Coors is someone who would have been in lockstep with Bush all the way. Salazar, while he voted for stuff that was not popular around here, other Dems I know, or with me personally (e.g. Rice, Gonzales), he cares about the environment, he is against Bush's Social Security plan, and he cares about the sanctity of our country especially when it comes to the filibuster.

But this is why I liked Dean more than Miles. I was a Dean guy and I know that Dean never made sour grapes about the primary. He threw his support behind Kerry.

One thing I noticed during the Senate campaign is that Schaeffer made good with Coors. There were no sour grapes and it disturbed me that Miles did not do that with Salazar. Getting back at Gates for Miles to me seems a little petty.

[otohara]

36. As A Miles Delegate, I Gladly Volunteered For Salazar

and he voted for Condi Rice and Alberto Gonzales. Sadly I knew this would happen, but nonetheless, there I was out on Federal with my Salazar sign.

[CODem]

43. Salazar is standing up for Democratic values

You have nothing to be ashamed about. Salazar is standing with the Democrats on critical issues such as judicial nominees, Social Security, the bankruptcy bill, gay rights, and the minimum wage.

Yes, he voted the wrong way on two symbolic votes, but he is a strong Democrat when it comes to votes of substance.

[goodhue]

11. Way to go Colorado dems!

Power to the people!

When leadership does not treat activist base with basic respect there is a big problem. Arrogance of power prevents leadership from the seeing problem until it is too late, and they are swept aside.

I hope Miles runs again, prevails over Udall and takes out Allard.

[F.Gordon]

13. Arrogance of power?

Pot meet Kettle. Kettle say hello to Pot.

Oh, and the Colorado dems had nothing to do with this.

[rockymountaindem]

15. You're not from around here, are you?

Miles cannot win here. Miles vs. Allard would be like Ivander Holyfield vs. Tiny Tim on crutches.

[CODem]

17. Don't lead us off a cliff for the sake of ideological purity

Mike Miles has a very impressive resume and is a dynamic speaker, but he cannot win statewide. His views are insufficiently mainstream to appeal to the types of voters whom we must win over to elect Democratic candidates.

Whatever your political viewpoint, there can be no dispute that Ken Salazar beat Pete Coors because Salazar is a moderate. Before anyone bashes Salazar for being a moderate, take a look at today's Wall Street Journal editorial blasting Salazar for standing up against Bush's right-wing judicial nominees. Or consider Salazar's principled opposition to the Republicans' effort to dismantle Social Security.

It is self-delusion to think that Miles would be a stronger candidate than Mark Udall. Miles would lose the Senate race worse than Dottie Lamm did in '98. And, furthermore, what's wrong with Mark Udall? Like Diana DeGette, he courageously voted against the Iraq War. Udall is a strong environmentalist. Rather than try to destroy our best Senate candidate in 2008, Miles should run for the state legislature, where he could make a real difference.

The defeat of Chris Gates was little more than a petty payback for a perceived slight against Mike Miles. Chris may not have been the most diplomatic state chair, but, under his leadership, we won the Senate, we won the 3d C.D. (with a moderate candidate), we won the State House, and we won the State Senate. Sure, he was not solely responsible for these wins, but neither can one deny that he played a significant role in these victories.

Pat Waak seems like a very nice individual, but I have seen no evidence that she has the experience or the political savvy to lead us to victories in 2006, or that she can raise the money necessary to keep the party vital over the next election cycle.


Please -- let's not destroy our party over ideological purity.

[coloradodem2005]

18. I am with you there.

I believe that we need to be Democrats. But if Miles became the nominee for the senate race, it would have been a disaster for us. We would have gotten our collective ass handed to us in that race and many other races that we won. This ideological purity thing is no better than what the Republicans do.

[F.Gordon]

21. How long has Pat been a Democrat?

I'm probably just "over-reacting" but this whole thing has a certain GREEN PARTY odor to it.

[CODem]

22. Pat Waak

Pat Waak was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 2002. I believe that she lost the primary for the 4th C.D. seat to Stan Matsunaka.

Whether she is "Green" or not, she has no track record as a party leader, organizer, or fundraiser.

[F.Gordon]

30. I guess my "over-reacting" is less toward Pat

..and more toward the contingent of the New Majority :eyes: of the State Party.

I recall before the Senate Primary - Green Party urging people to Register Democrat so they could vote for Miles in the Primary. Then the Kucinich contingency at the Democratic Convention. Now this.

[DaveinMD]

25. again-this is a disaster for the party

Chris was a great chair and he's ousted. The party's job is to win elections. That's what Chris helped to do and they replace him.

[coloradodem2005]

26. I agree with you.

Being a guy who supported Howard Dean, I totally agree with you. Personally, I thought Miles campaign was more akin to Kucinich than Dean. Check what I wrote out. I more fully voice my deal there.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=142&topic_id=3569

[rockymountaindem]

27. Dupe.

Please delete.

[rockymountaindem]

28. Allow me to take this opportunity to say that you're one of my fave DUers.

I always appreciate your insight on party machinery issues and on smalltime candidates across the country. I think you said that you used to be or still are a party consultant/manager. I'm glad to have you posting here.

I appreciate your focus on developing a broad coalition and winning elections, which is in the minority here on DU where many seem intent on converting the entire nation to their narrow personal ideology. You remind me of Lincoln's quote about Grant, "I cannot spare him for he fights".

The only thing wrong with you is that Yankees avatar. You oppose Republican one-party rule, yet cheer the Evil Empire that is the Yankees? Does. Not. Compute. :)

Red Sox man, Red Sox.

[DaveinMD]

29. Thank you

I do work in politics. I'm a minor direct mail consultant trying to break in.

I am a Yankees fan and that does not conflict at all. When I grew up, the Yanks never won. But I still loved going to the stadium.

[rockymountaindem]

33. I suppose...

Yankees aside, you're still cool anyway. There are a lot of you here on DU, so I guess I can't be too mad; especially with Schilling, Damon and Nixon going on and on about how great Bush is.

[paulk]

47. Horace Clarke?

one of the heroes(?) of my formative days.
and i'm still a yankees fan, too.

[DaveinMD]

50. Remember Kevin Maas

He was great the year the Yanks finished in last place.

[paulk]

51. uh....

no. I have been trying to erase those years from my memory. LOL.

Actually, I'm surprised at how few of the names I do remember.

Tom Tresh. Fritz Petersen. Stottlemeyer (or however you spell it) was still pitching.

That's about it, off the top of my head.

[DaveinMD]

52. Alvaro Espinoza

Butch Wynergor, Roy Smalley, Wayne Tolleson, Mel Hall, Omar Moreno, Andy Hawkins, Dennis Rasmussen, Bob Shirley.

Man those teams sucked.

[paulk]

48. just like the one percenters

shoot ourselves in the foot right after we win...

[F.Gordon]

49. Apparently - Gates is going to challenge this

I find it more than a little distressing that Miles is speaking on behalf of Waak to the press, and I really wish Waak would have handled this differently.

Right out of the gate Waak builds a Moat. No bridges.

What if Gates wins the challenge and his votes are counted? Miles.. errr ... Waak doesn't appear to be bending from the "All Your Party Is Mine Now" rhetoric.

Not good. The repukes are laughing their ass off and jumping for joy.
:-(