Oh Howard...

Watching DNC Chairman Howard Dean on Meet The Press (full transcript here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9967566/) on Sunday only confirmed what I have feared for some time now - Dean is the wrong person to be heading the DNC in such a crucial time. With Republican Congressional leaders, lobbyists, and administration officials under investigation and the President's approval rating consistently in the mid-30's (now in several polls), Democrats have a tremendous opportunity to do what would have seemed impossible just a few months ago - win back one or both houses of Congress. However, with Dr. Dean at the helm, it seems increasingly possible that the Democrats will squander this opportunity.

National Party leaders don't have anywhere near the power they once had. DNC and RNC leaders, respectively, have two basic (however, extremely important) functions: 1) Fundraising, and 2) Crafting/Promoting a clear message on behalf of their party. Howard Dean, as the Chairman of the DNC, is, unfortunately, the face of the Democratic Party. In appearances such as Sunday's, he represents all Democrats; on such a big stage, he has a duty to be clear, concise, confident, and most importantly appealing to the viewer/voter. Howard Dean has never been able to connect with voters outside of the most liberal circles of his native Vermont - he couldn't as a presidential candidate and he still cannot as DNC Chairman. The difference: his many missteps now hurt all Democrats, not just his primary campaign.

As far as fundraising, last week the Washington Post reported,

The Democratic National Committee under Howard Dean is losing the fundraising
race against Republicans by nearly 2 to 1...From January through September, the
Republican National Committee raised $81.5 million, with $34 million remaining
in the bank. The Democratic National Committee, by contrast, showed $42 million
raised and $6.8 million in the bank.

No matter how much anti-GOP sentiment there is in 2006, Democrats will not take back Congress without MONEY. It is certainly too early to be making doomsday predictions; however, at the same time, Democrats need to take advantage of the current political climate through an aggressive fundraising campaign. Having a (D) next to one's name will only win over a limited number of disillusioned moderates. (Remember how far Sen. Kerry got running as 'the other guy'?) Furthermore, a recent ABC News/Washington Post Poll (poll data: http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/997a3Midterms.pdf, story/analysis: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/PollVault/story?id=1283170) shows that Congressional Democrats have a relatively low approval rating (41%). In addition, 51 % of respondents feel that Democrats are not "offering the country a clear direction that's different from the Republicans."

All of this information makes the following quite obvious: Democrats have a lot of work to do if they expect to make significant gains in '06. The aforementioned poll data shows that most people still don't believe Democrats have a clear vision for America. Why? BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A CLEAR VISION FOR AMERICA. Please Dr. Dean, explain to us why Democrats still have not offered alternative policies on the issues that matter to us:

Right now it's not our job to give out specifics. We have no control in the
House. We have no control in the Senate.

What? It's not your job? It's not your job to tell voters what you would do differently? Its not your job to articulate specific policy differences between the Administration and the Opposition? In the words of a very wise man, you've got to be shittin' me. The head of the National Democratic party said those very words on Meet The Press on 11/13/05. Russert asked him about specific Democratic plans on Social Security, the deficit, Iraq, energy prices, and other issues, and that is how the DNC chairman responded. PITIFUL. EMBARRASSING.

One last point about Sunday's Meet The Press: RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman also appeared, in a separate segment. I would bet my paycheck that Dean's people refused to appear along side Mehlman. Mehlman would have eaten Dean for breakfast. The juxtaposition of a confident, powerful Mehlman to a horrendously inadequate Dean would have been tragic. Hell, Dean did poorly enough on his own.

I'll admit, I've never liked Dean. His early success in 2004 Primary season disturbed me. I never understood his appeal. Eventually, his inadequacies and of course the "Scream" did him in. He was elected DNC Chairman as a consolation prize in the aftermath of Kerry's defeat - this was a HUGE MISTAKE. Democrats may still make significant gains in next year's midterms; however, it will most certainly be in spite of Dr. Dean. He is the wrong person for Americans to identify all Democrats with.