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John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopefuls

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Wed Jan 12, 2005 at 12:37:40 PM EST
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The Hill reports that John Kerry is reaching out to candidates for the Democratic National Committee Chair and asking them "to be neutral" with respect to 2008. The Hill says Kerry is signaling his intent to run in 2008.

Kerry's stepson, Chris Heinz, endorsed Simon Rosenberg for DNC Chair. So has former Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi. The article says Kerry has not contacted Rosenberg, but his conversations with Howard Dean have increased. The article says strategists put Dean as the front runner.

I was on a blogger conference call with Mr. Rosenberg last week and was very impressed. Later this afternoon I'll be on a similar blogger conference call with Howard Dean. I'm undecided at this point - but very grateful to Blogpac for putting together these calls with the candidates.

The vote is February 12.

Much like House leadership races, every declared candidate will be on the first ballot, with the list winnowing by one with each round of balloting.....The candidates are continuing to contact the 447 DNC members who have a vote, with several candidates claiming to have spoken with more than 200.

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    John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopefuls | 20 comments (20 topical)
    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 12, 2005 at 01:49:18 PM EST
    I couldn't pick Simon Rosenberg out of a police line-up. Who is this guy? I know he supported the Iraq war, which is a big negative. There was no good reason to support that war; no one has ever given a good reason for it. I've been reading the name "Simon Rosenberg" on Democratic-leaning blogs for a year now and it is a mystery why he is so hot. What has he done besides glom a whole lot of money from big corporate types? Democrats had plenty of money last year. Money wasn't the problem. The problem is that they stand for nothing and we vote for them only because the Republicans are so irresponsible and dangerous.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#2)
    by Kitt on Wed Jan 12, 2005 at 02:20:42 PM EST
    And truth be told, I seriously doubt I'd vote for Kerry again unless he's the absolute last choice.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 12, 2005 at 02:21:24 PM EST
    Trippi probably knows that he is more responsible for both (1) the polished Progressive message labeled "Howard Dean" and (2) the innovations in online political fundraising that propelled the Dean campaign's efforts. I still like Howard, but his speeches made since the primaries have been far less inspiring. I couldn't pick Rosenburg out of a lineup either. But I suspect he's there for a reason. That reason probably has something to do with close ties to (legal) sources of income. Follow the money. Unfortunately, whomever becomes Chair will simply be greasing the pockets of the DLC.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#4)
    by Jlvngstn on Wed Jan 12, 2005 at 02:36:53 PM EST
    I only voted for Kerry because he was the only choice, if he is nominated again I will vote repub because he does not deserve the nomination.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 12, 2005 at 02:43:50 PM EST
    Thanks for the background work TL. I'd be interested in your opinion of Dean as DNC chair vs. Rosenberg.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 12, 2005 at 03:49:19 PM EST
    The co-optation begins anew. As far as I am concerned, this is nothing but the old guard DLC seeking to pull any teeth the more progressive Dems may grow. The "Sick Turks" are trying to geld the "Young Turks" represented by people such as Mr. Dean (I vastly preferred Mr. Kucinich, myself) before they have a chance to propagate and threaten to upset the status quo. I mean, really, taking advice from Kerry on how to win elections?. That's like taking the advice of celebate priests on how to maintain a happy sex life. I'd tell him to choke on his silver spoon, bugger off back to his mansions and leave the salvaging of the Democratic Party to the working class it was supposed to represent. The Dem Party must decide what it will be: an emaciated and emasculated footman of the Republicans, or the party of the working people. The mandarins of the DNC/DLC need to be shown the door.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 12, 2005 at 04:51:33 PM EST
    Posted by Jlvngstn: "I only voted for Kerry because he was the only choice, if he is nominated again I will vote repub because he does not deserve the nomination." Probably the most asinine thing I've read on TL in weeks. Kerry just won the election by landslide. And even if it was close (it wasn't), Ohio CLEARLY went to Kerry. We caught Triad changing the machines. And 30% of Cleveland's vote, alone, is missing. Waits of more than twelve hours in line in democratic precincts are an easy way to steal a state. Just don't let the other side vote. And then sit back and watch the injured party blame itself. Pure Rovism!! And you're playing along. 28 states vote with no paper record of the vote. Something like 80% of the country votes on $R Bush-backer secret software, 'tested' and certified by $R Bush-backer companies, in elections overseen by $R Bush-backer SecStates. Those are FACTS, not tinfoil. The media is busily trying to destroy Kerry, and you lugs are helping. What about fighting for his country, busting Iran-Contra, busting BCCI, and busting USPNAC's Iraq Airfields Plan during the first debate didn't you notice? --

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 12:53:01 AM EST
    "I take Ambien!! WE ALL DO, DON'T YOU?" --Colin Powell, thrilling to his Ambien addiction, before horrified Asian journalists. 'Yeah, it's great to sleep without seeing the tens of thousands of screaming children and their dismembered mothers we splattered onto kitchen walls all over a disarmed country. It switches me back into moral indifference, where sanity is gone, gone, gone, but it doesn't hurt. Actually, if feels good. I love it.' 'Hank Kissinger recommended it. He said it's the only thing that got him through his Laotian nightmares.' --

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 12:56:07 AM EST
    You have to ask yourself, Mr. Damage, why Bush didn't release his medical test results last year. He has a habit of avoiding medical tests when he's USING. What blood chemistry is he hiding? Is he on psychiatric meds like his father in office? Do you even KNOW the side-effects of Ambien addiction? --

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 06:18:18 AM EST
    Paul In LA writes - "Kerry just won the election by landslide." Uh huh, and there is no traffic this morning on the 605 and 710 Freeways. "We caught Triad changing the machines." Could you share with us your roll in this? And perhaps just a link or two to the news site? Somehow I missed this really sensational news story. et al - Returning to Kennedy's comments yesterday, he should have said: Our real problem is running left wingers from the northeast that vast number of Americans cannot stand the sight off and would never vote for. To win, it helps to be likeable.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#11)
    by kdog on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 07:20:22 AM EST
    Please, please, please...no Kerry. I'm tired of voting for people I don't like just because they aren't the guy I hate.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#12)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 07:55:01 AM EST
    "Kerry won by a landslide" If he won by a landslide we wouldn't have to worry about a recount in Ohio. John Kerry is a fine man and an honorable politician, but he could not beat a guy that was taking serious shrapnel on a nightly basis. Give me a candidate that is capable of articulating his position in 20 words or less and commands the respect and attention of those he/she is speaking to. I like John Kerry, I just would prefer he continue to serve in his current capacity and give us a candidate that can win.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 01:49:34 PM EST
    i like john kerry. a lot. i think he cares about america and he takes his role seriously. i cried when he lost, and not only because we'd have 4 more years of bush and cheney. however, he also has a face like a 100 year old horse and an oratory style that would put ben stein in ferris bueller to shame. we picked him because he would scare the middle the least. i think we need to pick someone next time that will motivate everyone the most. i know of a few moderate republicans who are aghast at what is happening in their party, and we need to capitalize on that without backing down on abortion rights, the environment, the true state of affairs in iraq, and fiscal responsibility. that person is not john kerry.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 01:53:03 PM EST
    btw, i would also like to see someone who supports gay marriage. this is seriously a no brainer to me - something that will be looked on in the future like the 'jim crow' laws are looked on now. i have never heard anyone give an cohesive argument against gay marriage that did not rest on the nebulous and vague notions of 'family values'. so why not just come out for it? i know i know, 'cause the focus groups said it would be political suicide. that doesn't make it right.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 06:03:23 PM EST
    keltie writes - "we picked him because he would scare the middle the least." Actually, you didn't pick him. He won by mong to the left and picking up Dean's base. That killed him. He had to keep on making dumb statements to keep the base happy... "Wrong war, wrong place, wrong time.." "I actually voted for the $87B before I voted against it..." "Gloal test..." "American Values..." (In response to Whoopi's tasteless jokes at the NYC fundraiser.. BTW - Did you read the numbers you falsely accused me of having? You know. The 11,300 un-validated provisional ballots in the Gov's election?

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#16)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 06:21:17 PM EST
    "Wrong war, wrong place, wrong time.." I think the "middle" would agree with that, don't you? Wait a minute, you are the lunatic fringe on that issue. Never mind...

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 08:15:40 PM EST
    Well, isn't THIS wonderful! Perhaps Kerry and Gore can toss a coin as to who will lead the ticket, all under the slogan of "We Really Mean It This Time!" If this is the sort of out-of-touch horsesh*t that passes for latter-day Democratic soul-searching, then this country is in far worse trouble than the polls foretold on 11/2/04. Someone has got to give Kerry the boot before he hurts himself.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 14, 2005 at 10:44:02 AM EST
    The 11,300 un-validated provisional ballots in the Gov's election? yes, and i responded by welcoming a re-vote. remember? i think i said something about how i cannot wait to vote for gregoire again, and how rossi's ear splitting 'alarm' ads have many people in the state calling for his head. i also said that i welcome an investigation into the election processes in washington state because i personally have nothing to hide and i am very interested in fair elections. i also stated that i have no doubt that fraud was ongoing on both sides of the political spectrum. and you refused to respond to any of that, instead continually repeating those numbers you found. what, do you want me to thank you for doing a bit of research on one of your (many) accusations? do you require a round of applause? want me to waste some time presenting you with numbers that you can dismiss as 'liberal hogwash'? no thanks, arguing with you has fast become boring and tedious as your dogmatic barking is soooo repetitive. i quit responding to you because i was tired of repeating myself over and over again. i guess you have a much stronger constitution than i do. btw, wasn't this blog about john kerry???

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 14, 2005 at 10:47:53 AM EST
    one more btw, ppj - your number's don't even jibe with rossi's.

    Re: John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopeful (none / 0) (#20)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Jan 14, 2005 at 11:57:41 AM EST
    PPJ - Why did Clinton beat the pants off Bush and Dole? Was he less liberal than Kerry? Was he less "left" than Kerry? When is the last time a sitting congressperson has won? Your quote selection is not what won the election, nor was it won because the "middle" voters who voted for Clinton decided that Kerry was too far left. It was won because the people did not relate to Kerry and his notoriety for deviating by hundreds of words from the prepared speeches. Voters like ex-governors as is evidenced by the last how many elections, mostly because they aren't voting on record for fed spending. Call me whacko, but my guess is that we will have another dem president and another repub president and another dem president and another repub president and so on and so on in the next several decades. Repubs got the vote out, kerry put the voters to sleep, very simple actually.

    John Kerry Makes Outreach to DNC Chair Hopefuls | 20 comments (20 topical)