I have a suggestion...Countdown said Rahm was in charge of winning.

[madfloridian]

They put him opposite Mehlman. Rahm is the one in charge of strategy they said. Well, well, then perhaps he will be eager to take the blame if we lose as well.

Ok, nasty dig, sorry, or maybe not. I agree Rahm is boss of the House candidates. They must walk the line or face his wrath. If he says tell Kerry to cancel, they must.

But whew! I breathed a sign of relief when I saw that...looks like that takes Howard Dean off the hook if we lose since Rahm is in charge.

They said so on national TV.

He who is charge of winning the House...must be willing to accept the blame if we don't win. Just saying.

Mehlman appears to have power in the GOP. Rahm appears to have the power in the Democratic party. On national TV he put himself in charge, perhaps that is good.

Suits me.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/487

[Totally Committed]

1. I saw that and couldn't believe it!

What's up with that???? I didn't quite know WTF to make of it. I only know it pissed me off.

TC

[madfloridian]

3. It was a message about who is in charge.

I think you will see more of it before long.

Anyway, we can use it to be sure they don't use Howard Dean as a punching bag if we lose. Because Rahm declared himself in charge.

And he is in charge of winning the House.

[Totally Committed]

5. That's one way of looking at it, I guess...

but, still... what chutzpah!

TC

[wyldwolf]

6. in this thread, you have gone from saying Countdown said he was in charge...

...to Rahm DECLARING he is in charge.

So, which is it? Do you have an exact quote?

Could it have been Dean didn't make himself available?

[Totally Committed]

8. It was a recorded segment...

no one "made themselves available", Rahm was simply annointed the head of the Democrats against Mehlman, for some reason. Should have been Dean, imo... but, it wasn't...

TC

[wyldwolf]

10. of course, but even you have to see the stretch here

First - Countdown said he was in charge.
Minutes later, Madfloridian says Rahm DECLARED HIMSELF in charge.

If he made such a proclamation, surely there is a quote.

And if you'll recall, Terry McAuliff stood in for Dean a week or so ago opposite Melman when Dean declined to appear.

[Totally Committed]

15. It seemed more than that... you would have to have seen it

to understand. I can actually see how that leap could be made. It seemed bizarre. I don't think Dean would decline to appear in a news story made up of recorded footage. No one even talked in it... it was narrated. It was presented almost as though he was the head of the Party. Really.

I wonder if it is anywhere on the MSNBC site to be seen? You have to see it.

TC

[wyldwolf]

18. Well, I'd like to see it.

If it is portrayed as described, it is inaccurate - unless they were talking about the House specifically.

[madfloridian]

21. I am looking for the video right now.

No luck so far.

[blm]

2. That was just NBC manipulating Dean out of the picture for credit. WE all know

that it was Dean who has been working his ass off to rebuild a collapsed party infrastructure that had been neglected since 1997 in most states, especially red and swing states.

Dean did that and with the help of ALL those Dems who stuck their necks out to oppose Bush fulltime over the past few years when he was at 80% approval, 70% approval, 60% approval and 50% approval.

All those who decided to enter the game with the help of the corpmedia and put THEIR faces on the victory now that Bush has been steadily under 40% are showing a cravenness that many of the netroots will NOT ACCEPT.

[tyne]

4. Rahm

Rahm is one smart dude. We're lucky to have him. Hope he and Howard work together.

[blm]

13. Rahm is fine on political level - but Dean is the one who crafted and

is BUILDING the party infrastructure to make EVERY state competitive. And is doing it in states left to COLLAPSE by Terry McAuliffe.

What Dean is doing effects the level where the votes are ACTUALLY COUNTED.

[wyldwolf]

7. well, then, they're getting their cue from Nancy Pelosi

[Totally Committed]

9. Are you sure that cue isn't coming from Rahm himself?

I dunno.... or maybe it's coming from Reid???? Either way, it shoulda been Howard!

TC

[wyldwolf]

11. only if Rahm was wearing a Nancy Pelosi mask when she said:

"This election will swing on a number of different factors, but all of the success that we have will be attributable to Rahm (Emanuel)"

But what really is the conflict here? Emanuel was charged by Pelosi to win the House. Not the Senate, and not the White House in '08.

Immediate gains will be attributed to Emanuel. He recruited the candidates to run in the tier 1 districts and those candidates (well, most of them) are polling ahead.

Tier 2 and 3 races that have become winnable in the last month certainly benefited in many cases from Dean.

[madfloridian]

12. Yes, exactly what I said, WW.. He is in charge...win or lose.

Exactly, you got it. We agree.

[wyldwolf]

16. of the House

..and like I just said - when GOP seats start falling in tiers 2,3,4... that is where Dean's work will be proven effective.

The polling doesn't lie. If we win the seat we need in the targeted races. Rahm. If we win the seats we need in the targeted races and beyond. Dean and Rahm.

[David Zephyr]

25. Thank you for helping keep the truth here.

Rahm and Senator Schumer have done great jobs, but Howard Dean is the Chair and set the tone, picked the fight and is leading us to a victory next week.

[dogman]

14. Local coverage of Rahm's leadership.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/120941,CST-EDT-sweet02.article
Snip>Independent analysts are bullish about Democratic prospects. They need to pick up 15 seats to take back the House. When Emanuel started, only 25 to 30 seats were seen as competitive. Under Emanuel's tenure, almost 60 seats are in play.<snip
Snip>Emanuel has been managing down expectations, but even if the GOP prevails, he will get enormous credit for executing a smart, tough-love plan and leveling the financial playing field in a money game usually dominated by Republicans. He raised $104 million as of Oct. 18. He long ago cultivated the art of creating relationships with major donors.<snip

[madfloridian]

19. I agree, he is charge. Win or lose.

And the day after he gets the credit either way.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/527

[AtomicKitten]

17. SEINFELD: The Big Salad

Julie: Here's your big salad.

Elaine: Thank you, Julie.

Julie: Oh, you're very welcome. So, I guess I better get going. Gotta meet mother a t the Guggenheim. Sure you don't want to go?

George: No, you go Guggenheim. I'm not much of a Guggenheim.

Julie: Sure, George.

George: Ya, you go.

Julie: Okay, I'll see you later. Goodbye.

Jerry: Bye bye

(Julie exits)

George: Did you see what just happened?

Jerry: Well, that all depends. . .

George: Did you happen to notice that Julie handed the big salad to Elaine?

Jerry: Yeah, so?

George: Well, she didn't BUY the big salad. I bought the big salad.

Jerry: Is that a fact?

George: Yes it is. She just took credit for my salad. That's not right.

Jerry: No it isn't.

George: I mean I'm the one who bought it.

Jerry: Yes you did.

George: You think she should have said something?

Jerry: She could have.

George: Oh, I know.

Jerry: Imagine, her taking credit for your big salad.

George: You know you buy a big salad for somebody it would be nice if they knew it.

Jerry: Obviously.

*****************

George: So did you enjoy your lunch?

Elaine: Yeah, A big salad. Very good. Actually it was too big. Ha ha ha Wht?

George: oh, . . .because she handed you the bag. I could have handed you the bag. She happened to pick it up at the restaurant even though, . . .

Elaine: Even though what?

George: . . . naw, it's just you thanked HER, and and oh, . . . what's the difference?

Elaine: What? What are you trying to say, George?

George: It's just that I was the one who actually paid for the big salad. She just happened to hand it to you. But it's no big deal.

Elaine: You want the money for the big salad, George?

George: No, no,

Elaine: What is the problem?

George: There is no problem. . . just a small miscommunication. Whereby you thanked her instead of the person actually responsible for purchasing the big salad.

[madfloridian]

20. I agree with you also.

All of you are saying the same thing I am saying. We are expected to win the House.

[Dr Fate]

22. What is Rahm doing different from what was done in last 3 elections?

The only difference I see at all is Dean's 50 state strategy and the Republicans screwing up more.

If Rahm is handling reponses to attacks, damage control, attacking republicans, capitalizing on GOP scandals, or adressing media bias, I have not seen any difference.

What are the significant differences betweem Rahm's strategy and the strategies we used in the last 3 elections? Is it fundraising?

I think when we win it will for the things we did differently, not for the things we kept the same.

[madfloridian]

23. Well, I don't know why that happened last night.

But it was very hard to figure. They presented Rahm as the leader of it all.

[Dr Fate]

24. I dont doubt that he is a factor- I'd like to know what he did different though.

I've seen Dean take us in a different direction with his 50 state strategy- and I've seen the GOP act different in that they are screwing up- and I've seen Swing-voters act different in that they are now in line with DEMS like Dean...

But what is it, strategy/fighting-wise that Rahm has DEMS doing different from the last 3 elections? My guess would be better fund raising.

Anyone know, specifically?

[wyldwolf]

26. fundraising and candidate recruitment

His fundraising prowess is legendary in DC (he raised another 2.5 mil this week), and he actively pursued and recruited candidates to run in districts where the "ideology" matched.

For example, he badgered Heath Shuler until Shuler decided to run - and Schuler is expected to win the race. He recruited Tammy Duckworth and a host of other "Fighting Dems."

In fact, of the original targeted House races (15 or 20), he recruited the candidates that are now projected to win.

Of course, much has to do with the GOP screwing up. Elections are always a referendum on the ruling party. But some areas will just not elect a liberal Democrat. Emanuel recruited centrist Dems for those districts to take advantage of conservatives fed up with the GOP.

[Dr Fate]

27. I think he should get his due credit- we all have worked hard. n/t

n/t

[Dr Fate]

28. Also, if "Fighting Dems" is Rahm's baby- then what is not to like?

I thought that was a great strategy from the first time I heard it.

If we dont give credit where it is due, we are not being honest.

[blm]

30. The point though is why is MEDIA focusing on Emanuel vs. Mehlman when

it is Mehlman who strategized for RNC and it was Dean running the strategy of the DNC.

Mehlman will get credit for the loss so why won't Dean see the credit from the media for a win?

[wyldwolf]

32. Only MSNBC. in ONE segment

...and if the Dems win the House, it will be Emanuel's win. And when the media talks about Democrats winning, more often or not they are referring to the House.

Some on the left may not like it. Some on the left may not like HIM. But even Pelosi recognizes the simple facts: He recruited the candidates that are currently leading in the polls - especially in conservative areas. His fundraising is beyond compare. And his micro-targeting of voters (voters who only turn out in Presidential elections) is thought to be the difference maker.

As I said above, it we win in a rout - meaning big gains in second and third tier congressional districts, Dean does get a lot of credit for that if the wins come in areas where he has begun his 50 state strategy.

[madfloridian]

36. That segment put Rahm as head of it all to the novice eye.

I agree with you, if he is going to get credit if we win, he should take the blame if we lose. Fair is fair, if you get the glory of being the head honcho.

[wyldwolf]

37. The tanscript in on MSNBC.com

It clearly defines what Emanuel's role is and clearly states the subject in question is the US House.

[OzarkDem]

29. But he won't be in charge of losing, right?

Sounds like Al Haig, who "took charge" when Raygun was shot.

[madfloridian]

35. You got the gist of what I was saying.

:hi:

[JamesJoyce]

31. Dean's strategy was to "Cut-And-Run" in SC

THAT was his 50-state strategy!

[wyldwolf]

33. Are there details behind that?

[madfloridian]

34. Do you have a link about that? Do you mean the DCCC or the DSCC?

I can go to the FEC files, or Open Secrets if it is back online and working...and see if he gave to have political directors there.

If you mean a candidate was not supported, you need to refer to the congressional committees headed by Rahm and Schumer.