Posted on 06/30/2005 8:46:00 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean urged members of his party to "stand up for what you believe in" at a lightly-attended fundraiser Thursday night, but none of Louisiana's leading Democrats was there for the message - not Gov. Kathleen Blanco or Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, or even the chairman of the state party, Jim Bernhard.
Dean afterwards attributed the absences to "schedules," but his selection as DNC chairman earlier this year was opposed by many conservative Democrats, and they continue to express dismay over the Vermont governor's tough words for the party in power.
The no-shows underscored the challenge Dean faces in "red" states - particularly as it concerns what he calls Democrats' "50-state strategy" of fighting for every state, and rebuilding grassroots parties, partly by doling out national funds to the local branches and insisting they hire additional staff. He's already given more than $1 million to the state parties.
In a press release, state Republicans mocked the DNC chairman, welcoming him to Louisiana and saying he was "the best thing to happen to the Republican Party since Jimmy Carter."
Anticipating the Democratic no-shows, party chairman Roger Villere Jr. said in a statement: "I can't understand why Louisiana Democrats would want to be seen with Howard Dean, but I certainly hope they continue to do so."
Dean gave no ground in a brief but fiery speech, pleasing a partisan crowd gathered in an old twine factory here with attacks on President Bush, who he said was "petulant," and "did not tell the truth" on Iraq, and accusing him of turning a deaf ear to those who disagreed with him.
Other jabs were aimed at House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. "It is not a moral value to take free golf trips courtesy of lobbyists," Dean said.
Dean is on the road for at least half the week, a spokeswoman said, taking the partisan message into hostile precincts. He was slated to go to another "red" state, Arkansas, on Friday, having cancelled a trip to South Carolina because of bad weather.
"We will not give up Louisiana any more, on the national level," Dean told the crowed. To win here, "you've got to have a strong message of conviction, and you've got to be well organized," he said afterwards.
An "old factory" is exactly where Deano and his party belong.
Which is exactly why the big Rats in La. don't want to hang out with Dean. They don't have any message. Oh, plenty of them have convictions...but rap sheets don't get you elected.
Democrats: They are the nation's ol' factory party: They make Washington smell
(/oscure pun)
We have to make sure Dean keeps getting his message out. Maximum exposure.
For eons Louisiana Democrats have loved crooks and demagogues, but Howie is too much for them.
History has a way of validating peoples lives.
In Jimmy Goober Carters case it validated that he really was a wacko nut after all.
In Deans case history will show that he was nothing more than a narrow minded socialists nut case.
Glue factory is where they belong ohh wait Dean must already be there sniffing away.
All those demorats missed the "Yeeeeehaaaaaaa" contest.
Better yet.
Considering that two state dem offices have declared bankruptcy, where else do they have to go?
Other jabs were aimed at House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
Doesn't Dean read his own party's memos? The DeLay S**tstorm is a miserable failure--nothing stuck. Read your e-mail once in a while, Howie--you're so, like,...yesterday.
Dean spews his "fiery rhetoric" in an old twine factory with no one there of any import.
PRICELESS!!!!
Go Howie, go! Keep up the good work.
Conservative democrat.?.. Whats that.?..
a MODERATE SOCIALIST.?.
Well .. it's going to be tough sledding with at least 2 DNC state parties in hock up to their ears. I heard FL was $900,000 in debt .. and some other state is $500,000.
Pray for W and Our Iraq Winning Troops
Tell that to EWE.
But unlike most Louisiana rats, EWE DOES have a message:
Let me OUTTA HERE! I'm not your wife, I swear! I'm not your...mfffffffff...[choke]...wif...mffffff
As someone sitting here in North Lousisiana, I feel that Gov. Kathleen "Granny Gasbag" Blanco would have been a perfect foil for Wacky Howie's foray into the Bayou State. Her dullness, cluelessness and comfortable grandmotherly smile behind which exists only an empty vessel would have given some assurrance to those at the twine factory rally who fretted that The Little Man's wacked out ideas might actually go somewhere. They'd have been reassured that not even bad ideas have a chance of going anywhere as long as our blubbering, clueless, chairwarming gasbag is around.
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