Question About McAullife

Hopefully, it'll automatically publish Monday morning (yup, playing with site features).

So, anyway, I was reading through this dKos post and I was struck with something: why are the Democrats keeping him around as head of the DNC? Rather than scurrilously speculate, I decided to simply ask for commentary from, like, actual Democrats and stuff: I figure that the ones here can give me an answer without spitting or starting long, arcane threads about labor unions.

But do read the thread, anyway. I especially loved the part where somebody revealed (with all sincerity) that my side holds secret leadership meetings to decide the party line; we have simply got to start checking IDs...

Comments

[carpeicthus]

Largely because it's apparently not my decision. Grr.

[Slartibartfast]

I'm a card-carrying VRWC Deathbeast, and I can state authoritatively that the most important thing ever discussed at those meetings is how to obtain more Cuban cigars for the humidor, and who's got the best price on vintage MacAllan.

[Katherine]

there's a consensus in blogtopia that whether Dean wins or loses (the primary or the general) Trippi should be the new head of the DNC after the election. Whether this consensus extends to the party functionaries who would choose the new head of the DNC, I do not know.

I don't like McAuliffe but I don't think he's truly been the problem--I blame the Congressional leadership, especially Daschle, more than him.

[Seth]

I'm a super-big non-fan of McAuliffe, mainly because he's the sort of Democrat that validates all the dumb stuff Peggy Noonan and the like say about Democrats. He's an excellent fundraiser and has a decent head for administrating a big organization; however, he seems to have relatively little passion or capacity to inspire. He's the king of talking about stuff that he thinks would sound appealing to "ordinary people," rather than having ideas.

Why is he still around? Because the DNC appoints chairs for a four-year period, and is loath to remove somebody. Personally, I think Donna Brazile should be the DNC chair - and yes, it's in no small part due to the fact that she's a black woman, but mostly it's because she "gets" stuff like the importance of registration and turnout more than McAuliffe, who's a very 1990s big-money-and-TV-ads kind of guy. Trippi is also a fine choice.

[Navy Davy]

Q: Why is Terry McAullife the head of the DNC?

A: Because the Clinton(s), (who continue to head the party) installed him there.

Q: After a string of embarrasing losses, and funding shortfalls, Why is he still there?

A: I dunno. Ask the Clintons.

[Timmy the Wonder Dog]

Rarely do I ever agree with Seth, but Donna Brazile is an excellent idea. Smart, combative and honest (well for a political operative)Donna would add some hubris to the old DNC.

Now mind you, I'm very happy the current Democratic trio. I hope they all remain in leadership positions for a good long time.

[Harley]

Well, having actually read the post, the reasons for keeping him seem apparent. Meyerson lays out the case for McAullife, including the challenges in raising money in a post-McCain/Feingold context. The organizational moves seem promsing as well. And Meyerson lists fundraising successes, not shortfalls. I guess one could boot him because the Clintons like him, but I always assumed Bubba-delerium was a right-winger's problem, not ours. Finally, he's the head of the frickin' DNC. He doesn't set policy, he can't enforce it, not these days, and of course Timmy thinks Brazile is an excellent idea: he saw her last two jobs on the resume. That would be Dukakis and Gore.

[RDB]

Harley,

I really have to agree with you. I've been extraordinarily impressed with McAuliffes abilities and actually think that he should continue as DNC chair indefinitely. Every time I see him on TV I'm struck by how many people he will be bringing to the polls.

[Edward]

We Dem's don't have the clearance for the Heritage Foundation's evil-spawn clone laboratories where they mutated Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie in test tubes, so we'll have to do with our human leadership for the time being

[RDB]

Edward,

If you check behind McAuliffe's left ear you'll find a tiny tattoo - HF-23(D). The series seems to be working well, shame we only ran 50 of them.

[Edward]

LOL RDB,

yes, but if you check Karl Roves forehead, I'm sure you'll find a "666" scared into his skin.

[Navy Davy]

You know that recent, hideous, mug shot of Michael Jackson, that just makes yer skin start crawlin', like someone dropped a few boll weevils in your britches?

McAuliffe tends to generate a similar (much less intense) effect when he mugs for the camera.

He's an oily feller -- a smooth-talkin', Gucci-loafer wearin', Latte'-drinkin' weasel, ain't he? :)

[MattK/D1]

He's an oily feller -- a smooth-talkin', Gucci-loafer wearin', Latte'-drinkin' weasel, ain't he? :)

Davy,

I think for brevity's sake, you can just use the word "fundraiser" and everyone will take the point. ;)

[Macallan]

I agree with Harley. Can't you just feel the love?

[MattK/D1]

Wow, did my improperly closed italic infect Mac's post? Let's try this.

[MattK/D1]

Great... now sloppy HTML is contagious. :(

[Katherine]

so if I want to cut off debate on a subject I can make people after me post in rainbow fonts (or white text?)

[MattK/D1]

Sadly, not all commands seem to work. I just tried strikethrough, which would be a devilish little wrench to throw in the gears, but alas, that function will not be contributing to anarchy here. Color does not work, either. Apparently, you can only emphasize or embolden your successors.

It is a supportive community.

[Macallan]

Hey Matt, you know what's odd is I lead off my post with a "close italics" html and it didn't work, but you use it and it does. Weird. (Or just way beyond my understanding of html, which wouldn't be too far).

[MattK/D1]

Mac,

Some quirkiness in typepad, I bet. I was actually trying to execute code that would have made your post end, "and so I have decided to cross party lines and vote for Dean," but apparently it's not possible to alter the fabric of the universe so drastically.

Instead, next time I think I'll shoot to see if I can get one of your posts to wrap up with "just kidding."

just kidding.

[Macallan]

just kidding.

[MattK/D1]

Ok, now say "Plamegate is way worse than Memogate." In 500 posts or less. :)

[Moe Lane]

NO.

:)

[Harley]

Aw, crap. Well, Mac, I think the love will be short lived, if only due to my intemperate, but wholly justified, response to your post over at Tacitus. So it goes.

[Macallan]

No worries Harley. You posted as I would expect.

[Harley]

That's weird. Because you didn't.

[Navy Davy]

I think our pal Harley has been kinda dyspeptic recently. Cain't tell if it's due to the Yankees losin' or the Davis recall.

But we still luv you,'ole Harley.

We'll be standin' with open arms, welcoming you to the right side, when you see fit to join!

[M. Scott Eiland]

"Rarely do I ever agree with Seth, but Donna Brazile is an excellent idea. Smart, combative and honest--"

Not to mention bigoted.

Nice person to have running the show, if Condi Rice ends up on the Republican ticket, and the Dems need a pleasant face to front for the race pimps.

[M. Scott Eiland]

If I need any extra cash come next November, I'm going to make a note of which Republican McAuliffe picks as his "biggest priority to defeat" for 2004, and hock everything down to my undershorts to bet on that candidate to win in a landslide. Hopefully, the smart gamblers won't have caught on, and I'll get better than Man-O'-War odds on the bet.

[MattK/D1]

I'm going to make a note of which Republican McAuliffe picks as his "biggest priority to defeat" for 2004

Some fella by the name of Bush, if I recall correctly. :)

[M. Scott Eiland]

"Some fella by the name of Bush, if I recall correctly. :)"

Probably true, although one might think that he'd refrain on this occasion, after having his ass handed to him so memorably the last time he set that goal for himself.

[jim]

Personally I feel that Terry Mcauliffe is about a half of sissy. Hes the epitome of the typical liberal mouthpiece as he talks,talks,talks, but never says a freakin thing.
Heres a guy thats admits hes gonna attack bush on his service records in regards to national guard duty. the same guy supported bubba whos record is there far all to see. No speculation needed about bubbas record. Remember the letter to Col. Holmes inked by Bubba himself? Remember the pictures of Bubba himself out there just a protestin the war. Not to mention the New York Times the liberal rag that it is somehow has managed to refute the whole Bush duty mess in the first place. Heck even Peter Jennings who by the way aint no Jesse Helms says that Mcauliffe has it all wrong. Yeah Terry mcauliffe makes 18 million on a 100,000 dollar investment, wheres the outcry from you downtrodden liberals on that. You liberals really shot yourself in the a$$ on this one. You lowered the bar so much for your god Bubba that in doing so you got it down just low enough for Bush to hop over and now there is no way possible to bitch and moan and still be credible, gotta love that!!!!