"Fat Chance" Howard Dean

"I'm trying to be restrained in my new role, I may be looking for a three piece suit. Fat chance!" -- Howard Dean addressing supporters at a rally as the DNC kicks off its annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

What is to be made of this? Has the democratic party really looked to Howard Dean to lead it into a new era? Did all five of the other candidates really drop out when faced with the overwhelming support of party leaders for Howard Dean? Is it possible that Dean will win this appointment without incident, or meltdown? Is it a dream? Are the Democrats about to put their political future in the hands of a man with a propensity for "caustic comments that sometimes stir controversy"? (CNN "Dean pledges to lead Democrats back to Power" 2/10/05)

Well, maybe there is good coming of this. When we all hung our heads on November 3, 2004 there was speculation that the Democratic party would have to cater to the "Faith" of the moderates in order to avoid political irrelevance. Hearing these words fall out of the talking heads on network and cable television struck fear in my already battered heart. How can a party that inspired so many to stand up against the "Moral Majority" in 2004 forget that they garnered 55 million votes? Howard Dean has not forgotten.

The Republicans may have won the White House in 2004, but at what cost? Have they put their party in a position to ostracize the very people that pushed them over the top? What happens when the next election comes up, and Gay Marriage is not on the ballot? Will the next Karl Rove be able to rally the kind of political support around "Family Values" after the party has shown a tendency to ignore the needs of American families, veterans, and children? It is funny, I never thought I'd root for the display of power we are witnessing from the Administration, but at this point, the Democrats have to encourage the abuse of power. It was abuse of Power that led to the Democrats being booted from Congress in the 1990s, and it looks as thought the Republicans don't have enough restraint to maintain control.

Back to Howard Dean. Now John Kerry has emerged as a major proponent of Dean's candidacy for the DNC Chairmanship, but what has brought on this sudden surge of support? Perhaps a desire not to face Dean in a Democratic Primary in three years? Perhaps a true belief in Dean as a leader for the new generation of Democrats. Either way, you can bet that there are a few Clinton's in the wings watching and waiting, to see how Dean's Chairmanship is received by the average Democrat.

Last month, a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll showed that 35% of democrats nationwide wanted to see their party be more liberal, while 59% said they wanted to see the party be more conservative. Perhaps this is the time for the Social Liberal/Fiscal Conservative to take the reigns of the party. Perhaps this is the time for the Democratic Party to represent democrats. Perhaps the future of the party lies in a near-libertarian position. How many among us would say we are socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I can tell you having recently left a college campus, that this is what the moderate/liberal youth of America identify with. It is this connection with the Youth (which makes up a giant portion of the U.S. Population) that makes Dean's candidacy strong. You saw it in the fall of 2003, as hundreds of thousands of "Deaniacs" emerged on campuses nationwide, starting grass roots campaigns to support Dr. Dean.

If the Democratic Party can successfully harness that energy, the party has better than good odds of being competitive, even in the mid-term election. If the Democratic party balks at the opportunity to involve the youth, and re-define what being a democrat in America is, they are destined for the political graveyard.

Maybe I'll vote Free-Soil in 2008.



Stay Tuned...

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In the Hole:
Early Look at the 2005 Major League Baseball Season!