Reply #173: Sorry, there is a power struggle going on--is anybody really surprised?

[bklyncowgirl]

What I don't understand is why anyone would be surprised at any of these allegations.

Would Hillary Clinton, who is planning on running for President, want a guy who believes that her husband had a hand in torpedoing his own presidential campeign as DNC chair? Of course not.

Would the DLC, who have pretty much had their own way in the party for years say, "Gee, Howard, we've never thought of it that way. Surely you're right." Of course not.

Would Washington insiders want a guy who proclaims himself the leader of the outsiders taking a position of power in the party? (even if he is really an insider as some suggest) Of course not.

Would politicians who sincerely believe that in order to win the party must move further to the right on many issues like the idea that the leading candidate for the DNC chair is a former New England governor who, aside from his infamous Iowa scream, is best known for his strong opposition to the Iraq war and signing the first law in the country legalizing gay civil unions? Of course not.

I like the idea of Dean chairing the DNC because I think the party needs a jolt of energy and new ideas. Of the guys who are running, Dean is the one who is most likely to do just that. He taught the old donkey some new tricks during his presidential bid, something that hasn't happened in quite a while. I certainly wouldn't deny, however, that there aren't people who feel threatened by Dean and that they wouldn't do whatever they could to stop him.