Whether wisely foretold or just lucky, Howard Dean might have done more for the Democratic Party than almost anyone in recent memory.
When Dean pushed his much-debated "50-state strategy", I thought the idealism was great, but wanted a more pragmatic approach. Sure, recognize the 50 states, but focus heavily on winnable elections! "We don't have time to waste our resources -- we need to do all we can to take Congress now"
Well, well, well.
As the GOP crumbles, as Bush mumbles, as Boehner-to-Hastert-to-Allen-to-DeWine-to-Ney-to-Talent-to-Barnes (you get the idea) stumble, the people of this nation now have a party that they can turn to. Surprisingly, there are possibilities of victories in small congressional races that would be unimaginable just a year ago.
Yet, this won't be Dean's legacy.
The Legacy that Dean will leave is that, in these previously forgotten realms, the Democratic Party has been able to organize more in the last two years than they have in the past 15 years combined. Because of the money and time invested, and especially because of the strong incentive to stand opposed to the Bush administration and his rubber-stamp Congress, many of these small movements have become full, bona fide political organizations. If ever this was to be done, in the heart of the red-state GOP stronghold, this was the year.
And Howard Dean, by either luck or foresight, did it.
We now, regardless of the number of seats won next Tuesday, will have a 50-state campaign next election. If we win at least one majority next Tuesday, we can expect these small organizations to build even further. And the trickle-down effect, which will also bring more local Dems into the fold, will only make these movements more lasting.
We were able to take advantage of the national situation to do a decade worth of the hard, grassroots work in just one election campaign. Incredible.
The Dems are coming, and we're taking our country back!