MyDD :: New DNC Rumors

New DNC Rumors

by Chris Bowers, Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 01:46:34 AM EST

Names, names and more names:

Defeated Texas Congressman Martin Frost is among potential candidates for chairman of the Democratic National Committee who are telephoning members about the situation, a leading Democrat said Monday.

"The following candidates are making phone calls to DNC members -- Howard Dean, Donnie Fowler, Martin Frost and Leo Hindery," said Mark Brewer, party chairman in Michigan and president of the Association of State Democratic Chairs.

Frost, a member of the House Democratic leadership team before Texas redistricting cost him his job in the November, would add a high-profile name to the mix of potential candidates. Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and former Labor Secretary Alexis Herman have said they will not try for the job.

Frost challenged Pelosi for minority leader post-2002, as a "centrist" alternative. I like the guy, but man would that have been embarrassing had he won. Losing Daschle was bad enough.

Tags: Democrats (all tags)

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Brilliant (3.00 / 2)

A southerner, a conservative, and a guy who just lost an election.

According to the Powers that Be in the Democratic party, that makes Martin Frost a perfect 3 for 3.

Go Dean!

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by Go Vegetarian on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 01:53:33 AM EST

conservative? (none / 0)

What, precisely, makes Frost a conservative?

Do you know his record or are you judging him by the fact that he's from Texas?

by desmoulins on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 02:43:08 AM EST

Re: conservative? (none / 0)

I called him a "centrist."

by Chris Bowers on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 04:03:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: conservative? (none / 0)

centerist = conservative in today's shifted political landscape.

You have your conservatives, neo-conservatives and those out of power.

by dryfly on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 12:28:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: conservative? (none / 0)

I was responding to a comment upthread, which called him a "conservative." You're right that your post called him a "centrist."

by desmoulins on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 05:50:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

No on Frost (3.00 / 2)

I live in Martin Frost's district. He campaigned on the fact that he agreed with George W. Bush more often than his opponent, Pete Sessions, did. It was embarrassing.

I think I'd pass on him as DNC chair.

by Len on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 03:34:18 AM EST

yup... (3.00 / 1)

....all those "martin frost stands with president bush" commercials really made me puke.

and len, we are prolly neighbors. do you live in the new district or the old frost district? i'm in the old district over here in arlington. and i agree with you 100% regarding martin. he was an embarassment.

Visit us at TexasKAOS, where we're taking Texas back!

by annatopia on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 10:25:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yup... (none / 0)

Funny how our districts were drawn, isn't it? I live out here in "near north Dallas" - a bit north of Love Field. It'd probably take me about an hour to drive to your house.

by Len on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 04:50:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

north of love field? (none / 0)

yup, at least 45 minutes from me to you. wait, now that 30's totally torn up again, make than an hour and fifteen.

and yea, you gotta love that gerrymandering! arlington is now included in a rural district. basically US TX 6 is now arlington + 5 rural counties south of the metroplex. lovely, isn't it?

Visit us at TexasKAOS, where we're taking Texas back!

by annatopia on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 05:45:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No on Frost (none / 0)

I agree. I am sorry to say he isn't very nice and isn't liked by his colleagues on the hill. I remember conversations about him losing his seat and people saying I'd feel bad if he wasn't such a....

by tiberius on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 12:18:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

NO NO NO!!! (3.00 / 1)

martin frost was my rep for the past twelve odd years until delay redistricted him out of a job.

i will say this again: FUCK MARTIN FROST! yes he is a conservative - that's the only way he could keep his job in texas. he voted with bush on the major issues - the war, taxes, and other wingnut initiatives like school prayer & CAFE standards ... FUCK HIM.

for whomever asked upthread why we think martin is a conservative, go look at his voting record.

not only that, but he ran some incredibly racist commercials during the last campaign.

NOT JUST NO BUT HELL NO!!

Visit us at TexasKAOS, where we're taking Texas back!

by annatopia on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 10:22:58 AM EST

Mr. Fowler (none / 0)

I have some insights on Mr. Fowler, son of former DNC chair of the same name, from an academic friend. Seems Don(nie - called that 'cuz his dad is "Don" to DNC folks) was a former field director for Gore (I won't automatically hold that against him...), among other decent quals. But it also seems that Mr. Fowler "gets it" about the 'roots, or at least he can sing the song. The key in his case, for us, would be in determining if it's an act or for real.

So he's either a Clinton/DC plant, meant to salve our vitriol and blunt a Dean candidacy, or someone we should consider being OK with should Gov. Dean decide he doesn't have the votes.

Anyone out there know which he is?

by ericd1112 on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 11:32:08 AM EST

Re: Mr. Fowler (none / 0)

i've only heard good things about both fowlers. now granted, i may not be listening to the right people, but from what i've gathered they're pretty well respected. and he does "get" the roots.

Visit us at TexasKAOS, where we're taking Texas back!

by annatopia on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 11:51:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mr. Fowler (none / 0)

I have met both Don and Donnie...and seeing that Donnie was briefly the head of the Draft Clark movement, and has had nothing but good things to say about how the Dean Campaign "got it." I am inclined to see in the latter catagory.

I can't see Donnie as actually getting the DNC job at this point in this career, however.
But I got the impression he was a good guy.

by nanorich on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 11:58:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mr. Fowler (none / 0)

I worked on the Kerry campaign in Michigan, and I can tell you that what you see and hear from Donnie Fowler now is what you heard and saw from him in Michigan.

The man is nobody's plant. He ran Michigan as a grass roots effort, held on to white blue collar voters and achieved the second highest increase in African American voters in the country.

Donnie Fowler is definitely for real.

by hawker on Tue Dec 14, 2004 at 11:11:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Frost.....the wrong man. (none / 0)

Are the democrats trying to commit suicide? Frost couldn't be a worse choice at the moment when democrats must restrategize and find inspired, charismatic leadership. Todays (11/30/2004), article by Thomas Frank in "Alternet"), clearly and brilliantly defines the kind of leadership and direction the party needs to get back its base, and appeal to a broader audience. Unless the current bunch of hacks in DC are moved out, democrats will remain moribund and irrelevant.

by morris1030 on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 12:02:52 PM EST

One very important thing about Frost (none / 0)

Ok, this thread indicates that there is some resistance to a guy like Frost, but one thing that ought to be kept in mind when choosing any number of DNC leaders - Frost is a fighter. He is a hell of a campaigner.

Pelosi, God bless her, is from a very liberal district in which she should win handily each and every time. Idealogically, she is very good for the party, but if there are questions about her, they are to her ability to: a) campaign in the crimson, b) instill party discipline, and c) reach out and include Hispanics (there was some row involving the Hispanic caucus which she did not handle well).

Frost was in Dallas where he was in a split district (now more so unfortunately, thank you Congressman Criminal Investigation) so Frost had to fight for everything he got. It amazed me that he hung on there as long as he did.

My point is that there is much to be learned from candidates who have had to fight the red tide up close and personal. Ultimately, he failed this last time, but guys like him need to be consulted and appreciated for what they know and what they bring to the table.

I would love for nothing more than to see Pelosi and Frost on the same page...if that is even possible.

by Tug on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 12:25:56 PM EST

disagree (none / 0)

do you live in d/fw? it sounds to me like you are judging what frost did here from an outsider perspective. to those of us who were "represented" by him in congress, and those of us who were "treated" to the bush-lite campaign he ran, we say NO TO FROST.

also, the reason frost got redistricted out of his homebase was because HE was the architect of the 1990 redistricting which screwed the GOP when texas was trending red. what he did in 1990 was just as awful as what delay did to us last year.

you say he's a fighter, but i'd have to disagree. martin is an opportunist. he doesn't stand up for traditional democratic principals (although i do give him props for his support of the right to choose) most of the time, and is a fine example of a "bush-lite" or "me too" democrat.

maybe i've just completely misread you, but you just don't sound like someone who's been represented by him in congress.

Visit us at TexasKAOS, where we're taking Texas back!

by annatopia on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 01:48:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

He's a 'dead armadillo'... (none / 0)

Dick Armey was credited with saying this about 'centerist middle of the road' politicians once*...

"There is only one thing you'll find in the middle of the road... and that is a lot of dead armadillos"

*I can't find reference to it but heard him say it on a CSPAN call in.

by dryfly on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 12:32:22 PM EST

Re: He's a 'dead armadillo'... (none / 0)

actually, that quote originates with texas populist jim hightower: "there's nothing in the middle of the road but yellow strips and dead armadillos". ;)

Visit us at TexasKAOS, where we're taking Texas back!

by annatopia on Tue Nov 30, 2004 at 01:49:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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