Dean wouldn't be announcing if he didn't have strong support

[cali]

from DNC members around the country. Now comes the effort to torpedo his candidacy from denizens of Congress and others in the D.C. power structure. I'm not sure what the root of the animosity is; whether it's that they're afraid he'll drag the party to the left, decentralize power within the party, or simply that he pissed off a lot of people with remarks he made during his run for the presidency, but one thing's for sure, they're going to fight like hell against his becoming chair. I'm afraid this could get ugly.

[ananda]

1. ugly? too bad

It's too bad that more elected officials aren't behind Dean. His role as party chair would be good for them, too.

The reason the media went after Dean was that he was the electable one, much more so than Kerry.

Dean could energize the entire party and its base. I don't see any other chair doing that.

Sue

[mattclearing]

2. He will slow the DLC's march toward oblivion.

That's why they will fight him.

[Selatius]

3. I'd support him if he decentralized power

The structure concentrates too much decision-making power at the top, imho. As a result, what they decide can put up a disproportionate amount of resistance against what the majority in the base may think. It also leaves open the door for easy manipulation by certain interests, since all one has to do is influence people at the top who set policy, not the whole base. It's harder influencing the base of the pyramid with gifts and cash than it is at the top where there are relatively few folks to influence.

Ideally, the base decides what happens, and the people at the top carry out the mandate given to them, but what I see happen sometimes instead is that the top makes the decisions, and the base is either forced to accept or reject, and if they reject, they have to spend time and effort just fighting the top to either force the higher ups into compliance or replace them with new leaders, or they give up the fight and give in. Unfortunately, it's easier to give in in such a power structure, and I think it may hint at the larger issue of voters not feeling represented by their own party.

[cali]

4. I think your analysis is spot on.

And it's very close to what I believe Dean has concluded. I wish him luck in wresting the party from the top down folks, but think it's going to be a long, hard road.

[talk hard]

5. Speculation.

Nobody can say for sure what is going on internally in the Democratic Party, but I'd be thrilled if Dean dragged the party to the left. They are so far up Republican butt right now. This power struggle for the reins will shape the party for years to come. You bet the DLC will fight him, but screw the DLC. Their irrelevance is of their own doing. I don't think Dean pissed people off, he just scared the crap out of the impotent light-weights in the party who didn't have the balls to put themselves out there.

Go Howard.

[Mirwib]

6. The purpose of a party is to maximize its power.

Parties do not stand for principle. Power trumps principle in the minds of those who want to be "our leaders". The general rule in politics is that when a party loses, it needs to move more to the center to gain more votes and hence more power. Dean bucks this general rule.

Perhaps, I am too cynical.