He may have lost the primary. He may have been brushed aside as the oddity to beat. But Howard Dean, much to the chagrin to people in the Democratic Party, was prepared to stay for the long haul :

1. He has built a 50 state grassroot strategy.
2. He's never backed down on his criticism of the party's contented romans.
3. He's never flip-flopped on his political convictions.
4. He has brought energy, enthusiam and all those internets to not just the Democratic party but to the whole political landscape.

Politics without Dean are just not fun. And I am the first to say my mea culpas --I voted for Kerry during the primaries thinking Dean would not have a chance to win. Yeah, you can bitchslap me, I know. Just be gentle.

How can I not be excited with the simplicity yet powerful focus of his vision with plans like the one described at Blog - Progressive Vote, Progressive Democrats of America | Howard Dean's Promise for the DNC. Or, for that matter, his famous snarkyness, like this one thrown at a rally in Washington DC on Wednesday :

New York Daily News - Breaking News | Dean Vows to Lead Democrats Back to Power

As Dean worked up the crowd, one of his supporters shouted: "Give 'em hell, Howard!"

"I'm trying to be restrained in my new role," Dean said with a mischievous grin. "I may be looking for a three-piece suit ...

He paused and then burst out laughing.

"Fat chance!"

Dean is set to be elected party chairman Feb. 12, but was careful to assume nothing after his late collapse in the presidential race, starting phrases with "If I am elected chairman of the Democratic Party ..."

All other candidates for chairman have dropped out of the race.

SNARK IT BROTHER!

Over at DailyKos, Kos is setting up a fundraising link, for the internets ePatriots to contribute to the close to be elected but not quite yet Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. It'll be the netroots way to tell him --and his detractors within the Clintocracy-- he is not alone.

Because, as much as people like John Heileman [ Why Democrats Should Learn to Love Howard Dean ] want to believe the Clintocracy is a-O-kay with Howard, they should just compare the two New York City outlets for both camps : the New York State Democratic Committee corporate style website and the Democracy For NYC community space setup by Howard Dean's Democracy For America.

Pay particular attention to the events section of each site : You would have never known through the official party line that Howard Dean came to NYC to campaign for the chairmanship on the 30th of January. Not a word, not one mention whatsoever. Meanwhile, Webb, Frost and even Rosenberg got listed on their events calendar. They even have a photo of Bill Clinton looking like a Mulberry Street don.

We have to keep an eye on those NYC Democrats. These next 4 years are going to be really interesting indeed.

PS : Is it wrong my loins get so hot looking at this Deanagorn? Can I testify a YEAARGH!.

Add a comment

The possibilities with a tool like this are endless. For example, instead of the corporate control 311 systems we have today, take this kind of tool and give it to the people for tracking problems around town. Fires, potholes, building hazards are one way to go. In England there is an public art project that allows people to phone-in their stories about different places around town --some never thought of as landmarks worth protecting. Add to it moblogging of photo, text and audio contributions by regular citizens and you could revolutionize the whole concept of a consumer/citizen response system.

Think of mapping your social networks. Like you school group, your work group, your Sunday night football group. How about mapping people by interests in a community of a town. The knitters, the LOTR d'orks, the Prada bitches. Then, of course, there's the possibility of mapping networks within a political community. Where are the Dean supporters comming from? Or the Clintonistas? How about the Progressive Libertarians who are ramping up to shake things in 2008 and beyond?

Granted, dealing with trolls and spammers would be one of the downsides of it but, there have always been people trying to game consumer response systems for ever. It's just part of human nature for some to always want to cheat, lie and manipulate.

That's why systems like these have to be regarded as tools and not as the be all and end all. It amazes me how people complain about spam in blogs. Look, if you can't use the tools out there to delete the stuff because you want a little technological sprite to take care of it for you while you sleep, you're an idiot. Technology is just an extension of human effort. You don't put the effort, then technology does not work. It's that simple.

Add a comment