The following is taken from a post on my own blog,
Bulldog Blue:
Just got back from hearing Howard Dean talk about the media. He made a lot of points that I agree with (re-regulate ownership, back away from news-as-entertainment, encourage blogs, etc.), unsurprisingly. More importantly, if by "importantly" you mean "relevant to the latest story caught in the blogosphere's teeth," he revealed his latest thinking about running for the chair of the DNC. Here's a few tidbits:
- He is definitely thinking about it, but appears not to be leaning either way. It's an idea that intrigues him.
- He believes very, very deeply that the DNC needs serious reform. As chair of the DNC would probably refocus the organization on grassroots stuff and local candidates, much the way DFA does now.
- One major "pro" factor is that personally, he hates to pass up opportunities where he thinks he could make a difference. His remarks about why he was running for president were very similar, and he did that, so for anyone who wants a Dean candidacy, this is probably good news.
- One thing stopping him is that the DNC chairmanship means he couldn't run for president in 2008. This is something else to which he is giving serious thought. Assuming the whole DNC chairmanship thing doesn't come through, he'll probably have a decision on running for the presidency again by 2006 (presumably around midterms).
- The other, bigger thing stopping him is the fear that, if he runs and loses, DLC types in Washington will take it as a sign of vindication and become even more dismissive of Dean's grassroots message than they are now. He doesn't want to doom the entire movement through some fluke of internecine warfare.
So, yeah. Eat your heart out, Drudge.