Howard Brush Dean III should NOT be the DNC chair. The blogosphere should NOT support him.
Here is why:
1. Proven Results
Even with an insurgent campaign that started late and was by all accounts held together with duct tape and spitballs, Dean built a national organization, raised more money faster than any previous Democrat and nearly won the party nomination. Who knows what kind of electoral chaos would've ensued if he'd had time to level the big guns.
2. A 50-state organization
People from half the counties in the United States contributed to Dean's primary bid. This kind of broad-based, democratic support is dangerous, as control of the party should remain in the hands of an elite few.
3. You have the power
The grassroots energy created by the Dean organization was just too difficult to channel into a productive and disciplined campaign. Best to let that energy either dissipate, or maybe transform into yet another third party. Then the Democrats could fight with that party for control
of increasingly tiny and easier to manage scraps of turf.
4. The "Scream"
That night in Iowa, not a single person in the room for The "Scream" thought anything of it. But it shocked the sensibilities of wise and scrupulously balanced pundits on CNN, like Bob Novak. The party should cede power to these individuals whenever possible: this is the best path towards currying favor with our friends in the liberal media. Their spin of an otherwise unremarkable rally into Dean's assassination was surely done with the best interests of the republic and the Democratic Party at heart. Media barons should be the kingmakers of the party, not the grassroots.
5. Hundreds of thousands of hits per day
Let's be honest. Weblogs are a fad and won't play a significant role in future election cycles.
6. Speaking truth to power
From the war in Iraq, to social security privatization, to the No Child Left Behind Act, Howard Dean knows a Republican-hatched scam when he sees one and he's not afraid to say so. The offering of real and substantial alternatives might confuse the American people, or worse yet, remind them of their capability to think for themselves. Nothing could be worse for American democracy.
7. Pragmatic progressivism
In his primary run, Dean clearly articulated a coherent and moderate progressive platform. This message appealed to my Republican parents, my wife's Republican grandmother, former Perot voters, a millions-strong gaggle of young & incredibly energetic progressives, minorities, creative classers, exurbians, first time voters and senior citizens. Having so many different kinds of Americans working together on improving the country is a recipe for unmitigated chaos. Let the elites rule!
8. The Lakoff Connection
Dean is in cahoots with this George Lakoff character. He even wrote the introduction to Lakoff's most recent book! The Republicans practice this sort of coordination between thought leaders and party leadership all the time, but it clearly ought to have no place in the Democratic Party. Framing, schmaming.
9. Backbone
Most of all, Dean has backbone that we can't use right now. The Republicans control practically the entire Federal government. This political moment clearly requires a meek and accommodationist approach, so that we can collect whatever scraps the Republicans might deign to throw us. Howard Dean can not take us in that direction.
The only thing that can be said in Dean's favor is that Democracy for America also lacks a cool little browser icon. Democracy for America, the New Democrat Network and Martin van Buren - no little browser icons, all winners. Now that's a platform we can take to the bank.
