I'm coming out of my self-imposed hiatus from writing diaries, ever so briefly, to comment on the Chris Dodd surge in the netroots. Currently, he's cleaning up a strong second in the October DKos straw poll, and most people will say it is because of his strong stance on the FISA/telecom amnesty bill.
That's probably a fair reason, a good cause-and-effect, if you will. And if that's the reason for the surge, that's great. But if you are supporting Dodd because of that stance, let me encourage you to look a little deeper...
because there is a lot more there than meets the eye.
Up until about a month ago, I didn't even give Dodd a second look. I thought of him as something of a joke, a la Joe Biden. Overgrown blowhard Senator from the Northeast (finally) making his run for President. Big deal...like we needed THAT again.
Then, on September 26, 2007, Dodd got me to notice. Or to be more precise, Clinton, Obama and Edwards all punted and refused to commit withdrawing all forces from Iraq by 2013 , or ten years from the start of the Iraq War.
It was a big disappointment. And then, Sen. Dodd, sensing the opening, got my attention:
MR. RUSSERT: I want to put you on the record. Will you pledge as commander in chief that you have all troops out of Iraq by January of 2013?
SENATOR DODD: I will get that done.
MR. RUSSERT: You'll get it done.
SENATOR DODD: Yes, I will, sir.
Alright...full disclosure...I'm always a sucker for the "git 'er dun" candidate. But still...it got my attention, enough for me to take a look at his website. If you haven't already, I encourage you to do so. Because what I found there on the issues, and Dodd's plans, really impressed the hell of out of me.
Dodd's Energy Plan: Endorsed by Bill Bradley, among others, Dodd calls for a Corporate Carbon Tax (along with a cap and trade system) as well as heightened fuel economy standards within 10 years. The glorious beauty of the Corporate Carbon Tax -- estimated to generate over $50 billion a year in revenue -- is that revenue would be invested in an Apollo type project for the development of alternative energy sources. Brilliant.
Dodd's Education Plan: When Jonathan Kozol says that Dodd has "by far the best, most ambitious and enlightened education plan of the Democratic presidential candidates," it makes stand up and take notice. Community college for all. Universal preschool. Virtual learning. Talk about a plan that understands how we will need to compete in the 21st Century! Dodd does indeed get it.
Dodd's National Service Plan: Just outstanding. Raises the Corporation for National and Community Service to a cabinet level position, doubles the size of the Peace Corps two times over, 1,000,000 member goal for AmeriCorps in 10 years. Win-win-win all around.
And the list goes on. Fully portable pensions, universal healthcare based on the FEHB program, expansion of FMLA...well, go read for yourself.
Anyway, while Sen. Dodd hooked me on his commitment to withdraw troops from Iraq by 2013, he kept me when I read the full extent of his platform. When I had no candidate before, I consider myself a Dodd supporter now.
I know, I know...guy polling at 1% with little money doesn't have a shot to win. Do I care? Not really. I was a full-fledged Dean supporter in '04, and I felt the same way about him: no way he can win. Felt that way even when he was cruising in the polls. Turned out I was right.
But you know what? I didn't care then and I don't care now. Because like Dean, Dodd is saying the things that need to be said and doing the things that need to be done at the time those things are most needed to be said and done. And if that can help push the party -- and the nation -- where it needs to be, so be it. Dean did it in '04...Dodd can do it in '08.
And if enough of us agree to check him out beyond just one issue, who knows what might happen?