This disappoints me, since I usually respect Bowers quite a bit. Who gives a flying f**k if the Chicago Trib gives Rahm credit? I know the issue is bigger than that, but why all the incessant bitching about who gets credit?
That stuff is childish...our people have a nation to govern, and we need to help them do it, as well as to elect more of our people. 2008 is the prize, and my eyes are straight ahead.
To a certain extent, I agree. I should say that I do think it's important to give credit where credit is due. But really, the Chicago Tribune is in Chicago, Rahm Emanuel represents a part of Chicago -- what would you expect? This isn't that big of a deal.
To the extent that the Chicago Tribune is a right-wing rag, it is in their interest to overcredit Rahm. Whose strategy would they rather face, that of Dean or of Rahm?
It's like crossing over in the 1992 Republican primary to vote for Pat Buchanan because you want to dilute support for GHW Bush.
Had the Chicago Sun Times made such a claim, that would be something to be more worried about. Ergo, this is a joke.
I was thinking the same thing. This actually makes the paper seem provincial. I mean, you expect it of little hometown papers.
The 'little hometown paper' is TMS, Tribune Media Syndicate that owns waaaay more than the Trib - there's tv stations, LA Times, WGN, the Chicago Cubs, the Hartford Courant and much more.
Do ya see now why it's a bigger picture and more going on than hometown paper mentioning hometown boy doing well, esp when it wasn't all Rahm, all the time, not by a long shot. It's about big big biz and corporatism which is what killed the Dems the last time around and is killing the Reeps now.
if you don't mind, could you give us a schedule so that we know when it's ok to have fun with the blog we write on for 10 hours a day 7 days a week? thanks.
Matt,
Its not about having fun. I support what you guys do as much as anyone, and you damn well know that you're not looking a schedule. You guys are the bloggers here, its your site, but I don't see why a sharp rebuke from you is necessary at ANY time when someone disagrees with one of yo.
If you could, let us know when its not okay to take seriously things that are written regarding serious topics. 'Oh, this time, we're just having fun, so no disagreeable comments, please.'
I don't understand all the sarcastic comments about Rahm Emmanuel.
The last time I checked he was a Democrat. The last time I check he headed the DCCC that produced the largest Democratic House victory in 30 years.
I don't understand all the hidden animosity.
Matt, you're kidding around? If this article was praising Howard Dean, I think you're going to see Alleluia & Praise the Lord from the same people who are being sarcastic.
Until a certain segment of our party realizes that the Left won't Fly without moderates & moderates realize that we will not soar with the Left.
Having Fun? PLEASE !
P.S. Just like Joe Lieberman was just declared Today by NY Times & Wall Street Journal as the MOST POWERFUL MAN in the Senate. Was that funny too? I wonder why.
Being a Democrat doesn't automatically mean that what you do is right. And I don't think the animosity has ever been hidden.
Yes, he was heading the DCCC for this election, but it does not automatically hold that he is RESPONSIBLE for that. You're probably wearing a shirt right now, and if you flap your arms, you won't be able to fly. Just because both facts are coexisting does not mean that the one impacts the other necessarily.
That's because Dean actually implemented and fought for (not against!) the 50 State Strategy.
So yeah - Emmanuel is an ass for taking credit FRAUDULENTLY.
Dean was right, Rahm was wrong - exept now, Rahm was somehow right and Dean just went along for the ride? Or better yet - they did it IN SPITE OF Dean?
Yeah... I wonder where the animosity is coming from... where could it be?
Face it, his recruited candidates: Schuler, Jennings (who won), Giffords, Mitchell, Ellsworth, Arcuri, etc. etc. mainly won their races.
Also, the 50-state strategy was FAR from the only field operation in town. The DSCC and DCCC actually spent more money on field than the DNC.
Dean himself has said repeatedly that the 50-state strategy is long-term and is still only in its infancy.
f you don't mind, could you give us a schedule so that we know when it's ok to have fun with the blog we write on for 10 hours a day 7 days a week?
Doesn't Kos tell you?
Hey Matt, I was laughing too.
Making sure credit goes to the right people is an essential part of politics. Right?
The big issue is accountability and that is an essential part of politics.
With Rahm very late to come around to Iraq and an expanded playing field, plus holding grudges and wasting money on his vanity race -- it is important to discuss not so much whether he deserves credit but why it took him so long to come around.
That is what the Tribune should be writing about.
If we expect anyone to listen to us in the future, it's probably a good idea to not let people who disgree with everything we stand for get the credit for what we accomplish. Also, I'm sure that you can get a full refund of your subscription price if you find that the content is no longer meeting your standards here.
So is that your idea of what this blog should be? Everyone fall in line and sing the same song, or get out? Do you think Bowers, Stoller (maybe he does: see above comments) and Jerome want to be preaching to a drone army that isn't in any way diverse in their opinions?
Work on your reading comprehension.
Does "disagree with everything we stand for" sound like "Everyone fall in line and sing the same song"? No? Not even close? Well, then, it looks like you have a nice straw man argument there.
Yeah, I'll do that, thanks. Maybe if you had read a little further, you'd have seen the part where Lucas suggested I leave the site. That is what I was referring to, genious.
2008 IS the prize. And I don't want Rahmsfeld fucking it up the way he did IL-06.
With Rahm becoming the new K Street "boy", why else do you think the right wing wants to adopt him and give him kudos beyond his worth or his just deserts? It's all about money and power and Rahm wants them both, so it is important to stick a pin or two into those who expect undeserved power. Dr. Dean is the one who set this country on the path to healing with his 50 state strategy. This post is great in deflating Rahm's oversized balloon.
Agreed.
The GOP in the House got beat at least 29-0. This is like winning the Super Bowl in a shutout, but then whining about missing an extra point.
I can see why people could be upset with Rahm, but he's no longer the DCCC chair. He should have sent money to NC-8 and he didn't. However, he did have some ads run in Kansas, which knocked off Ryun. Hindsight is always 20/20. Enjoy the victory
You're not a Rahm for Prez guy ..no.. right?
Not so much, no. I just don't value things like the left-center-right debate so much as I do results. And as far as I can tell, people around here are upset with Rahm primarily due to the Cegelis primary in IL-06, and I'm just not keen on continually fighting that battle. Since we took the house, and since Rahm is no longer the DCCC chair, there doesn't seem much benefit to the intra-party squabbling over who should get credit.
Until it happens to YOUR district and YOUR progressive candidate.
Just because he will not be head of the DCCC doesn't mean he will not be in a position to pull strings.
