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Howard Dean Tells TPMDC: 'Big Night' For Progressives


Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean.

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Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said in an interview that Tuesday's elections look like a "pretty big sweep" for progressives. "They are having a big night," he said.

"My belief is that progressive Dems are a lot more appealing to mainstream voters than tea party advocates," Dean told me in an interview just after Rep. Joe Sestak was declared the winner over Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary.

"This is a big night for people who really want Washington to be a change agent," Dean said, adding the results show a "backlash" against both parties in official Washington. Dean, also former governor of Vermont and a 2004 presidential candidate, said he views Jack Conway as the progressive choice in Kentucky and said Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's forcing of a runoff in Arkansas proves that candidates on the left can prevail.

At the same time, Dean thinks Sestak is a Democrat in the mold of Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) -- a centrist who was elected in 2006 in part thanks to online progressives supporting and funding his candidacy until it attracted national attention. "New progressives are the old centrists. Conway and Sestak will be pretty damn appealing to the middle of the road," Dean said. "Joe is a bit of an iconoclast and that's what you want in a race like this. Joe is a centrist with conviction politics."

(He added that Halter would also appeal to the center, but it's not clear how he'll fare in that June 8 runoff against Sen. Blanche Lincoln.)

Dean said the results in Arkansas are positive for people seeking change in D.C. "It's interesting to see these folks in Washington being squeezed. Arlen did everything asked of him, becoming a progressive Democrat and backing EFCA and health care and everything else. But he's been in Washington for so long that hurt him, and that hurt Lincoln," Dean said.

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May 19, 2010 4:49 AM   

Sestak as Jim Webb? Ack!!! I was worried that might happen... He'd be a blue doggy "maverick"... man, I hope that's not the case!

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May 19, 2010 6:40 AM    in reply to Lord Mike

You did your best to smear the guy as untrustworthy. You lost. STFU and pack it in.

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May 19, 2010 10:44 AM    in reply to FreeRider

lmfao

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May 19, 2010 9:22 AM    in reply to Lord Mike

D.C. pols and media...need to wake up and pay attention.

If, Sestak forgets who put him in this position, then...he will be voted out just like the other "centrist" Dems.

We'll primary Sestak just we did Specter and Lincoln.

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May 19, 2010 12:29 PM    in reply to 2questions

That's rich. He hasn't even won the general yet, much less served in the office, and you're already threatening him with a primary challenge?!?!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The problem isn't the process, but rather the people participating in the process...

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May 19, 2010 5:41 AM   

"Progressive"? What's that supposed to mean?

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May 19, 2010 6:20 AM    in reply to Sailormarlowe

Someone who strives for progress; the opposite of you and all you believe.

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May 19, 2010 8:51 AM    in reply to Acewrap

simple, SM; we want to give our children a better world than we knew. But for most conservatives like you, that can't happen because you won;t pay for it. Your own wealth matters more than the future, so the word progressive has become a dirty word to you.

When the well being of our children and grandchildren imposes on your need to own everything and control everyone you sacrifice your children long before you sacrifice your personal wealth.

Progressives want a better future, that grows with our population.

Conservatives want it all right now.

THAT is what Progressive means.

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May 19, 2010 8:26 PM    in reply to JEP07

This is pretty much a perfect explanation of the current mindset of "progressives":

"WE want to give OUR children a better world than we knew. But for most conservatives like you, that can't happen because YOU won;t pay for it."

That's right WE WANT, WE WANT, WE WANT - YOU PAY!

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AJM

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May 19, 2010 8:58 AM    in reply to Sailormarlowe

It means winner.

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May 19, 2010 9:25 AM    in reply to Sailormarlowe

I'm afraid in venues such as this progressive is equivalent to Democrat. The democrats, despite their corporate ownership, like to believe they are progressive. They maybe a tad more left than the republicans but this by no means entitles them to being considered progressive.

I'm afraid for them the term 'progressive' is just part of an ego trip. The faux progressives here and their blinded worship of corporate sponsored politicians, for those of us that can see, exposes their true colors.

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May 19, 2010 7:04 AM   

Scarry innit...."New Progressives are the old Centrists"? Well, nice to see H.D. confirm my suspicions that the political landscape has dramatically shifted to the right. So what becomes of the "Old Progressives" or the "democratic wing of the Democratic Party?"

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May 19, 2010 7:18 AM    in reply to smallhandff

Their in the White House. Where you been.

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AJM

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May 19, 2010 9:00 AM    in reply to Langx

Watching policy outcomes?

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May 19, 2010 8:53 AM   

RE Kentucky:

With all this supposed motivation on the right, with a marquee name teacreature in Rand Paul, here's what I took out of yesterday's primary vote in Kentucky, the numbers - Democrats 448,000 votes, Republicans 330,000 votes.

THIS is what the teabaggers call a "big victory."

I French-laugh in their faces: (snorted through the nose) "Hoh, hoh, hoh!"

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May 19, 2010 9:07 AM    in reply to colonpowwow

I fart in your general direction.

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May 19, 2010 9:39 AM    in reply to Moose49

Yes, you do. And that's about what the mighty teabagger revolution laid on us last night, and for the last 8 months.

I live in the reddest part of the first red state called for Bush in 2000 (Lawrence County, Indiana), and I can't wait until the day after Election Day 2010, to see the stunned, disappointed looks on the good ol' boys down at the Fayetteville store. Heck, they'll probably be so depressed they might even forget to talk as loudly about the "Ni99er President" that morning after.

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May 19, 2010 12:47 PM    in reply to colonpowwow

RE Kentucky:

With all this supposed motivation on the right, with a marquee name teacreature in Rand Paul, here's what I took out of yesterday's primary vote in Kentucky, the numbers - Democrats 448,000 votes, Republicans 330,000 votes.

It's not just KY...

Every Major Primary from yesterday had a similar breakdown.

KY: 448,000(D)-330,000(R)= +118k more Dem votes total

AR: 326,000(D)-140,000(R)= +186K more Dem votes total

PA: 1,042,000(D)-819,000(R)= +223k more Dem votes total

Even the PA-12 showed suprising democratic strength.

PA-12: 70,600(D)-60,500(R)= +10k more Dem votes

It's too bad the MSM is too busy saying tuesday was a victory for the teabaggers and a repudation of Obama to actually report on the larger turnout by, the supposedly unmotivated democrats. 1/2 Million more Dems voted yesterday than Repubs.

In total votes cast tuesday, my math puts it at... 58.5%(D)-41.5%(R)

(I know it's not a perfect comparison but it does point to a narrative of a motivated Democratic base the MSM is unlikley to report on)

I'm willing to bet not a single MSM outlet will report this...

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May 19, 2010 4:56 PM    in reply to _jonny_5_

Of course not. And they'll do everything they can to downplay PA-12, just like they did with NY-23 last year.

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May 19, 2010 5:35 PM    in reply to Red XIV

I suppose that may work to dem's advantage as the repubs continue to nominate really scary individuals that most of the electorate (and the clearly motivated Dems) could not vote for.

I don't think Dems will gain seats in November but I dought we are looking at the shift that the MSM is playing up. (I suppose w/ Fox's ratings dominance, the entire MSM is trying to "OutFox" each other)

and yet the myth of the "Liberal Media" lives on...

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May 26, 2010 12:58 PM    in reply to _jonny_5_

Even on the supposedly ultra-liberal MSNBC, we have Chris Matthews who's for almost a year now been acting like it's a foregone conclusion that Republicans will take back the House. Yeah, where's this liberal media I've been hearing so much about? I'd like to watch it, it'd be a nice change of pace.

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May 19, 2010 8:58 AM   

No day of change, these results instead perpetuate the climate of corporate funding and the reality of a two-party duopoly in America. These "progressives" Dean is lauding are loaded with Big Business funding and plauged by the inherent flaws when a "D" - or an "R" - is attached to ones name.

http://sunstateactivist.org/campaigncorner/?p=302

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May 19, 2010 9:52 AM    in reply to Jerry

You do with what you can. That's the way the game is played in American politics today (and for a long time now). But if the goal is fundamental change (ie public funding of elections), it's progressives like these who would conceivably vote for such.

You have better viable candidates to offer? Anyone fooled by the fact that we're in the position of choosing the more acceptable of the two capitalist criminals?

I'm old, cynical, and beat down, so I'm sort of used to it all. My "therapy" is occasionally voting for the Socialist candidate (if I think the Democrat's going to win big anyway).

So, where's the groundswell for the one thing that will end this madness, again, the public funding of elections and the elimination (or limitation) on corporate and union funding?

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May 19, 2010 9:38 AM   

PROGRESSIVES RULE!

I am so happy for US I am trying not to jump out of my skin.

Let's savor this moment and what it portends.

Best regards to all.

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May 19, 2010 9:45 AM   

Dean was no liberal or progressive as a governor, just a principled pragmatist ready to take on and to engage both sides and as a candidate just a rare and passionate common sense speaker during this nation's most insane years, and for that reason many supported him enthusiastically.

His being labeled as a liberal was an accomplishment, by the pro-war MSM, which little had to do with his non-ideological record and ignored his support for focusing, for example, on Afghanistan. I'll still respect him tremendously if he promotes himself as a card-carrying progressive, but as such he will not be the Dean that moved me so back in '03 and before.

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May 19, 2010 12:44 PM    in reply to AdAbsurdum

Hear hear. But he's still the best spokesperson for the Democratic Party, no matter if you're a right, center, or left Democrat. He's articulate and isn't afraid to name names.

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May 19, 2010 9:53 AM   

Sestak is hardly progressive, but he is at least a reliable Democratic vote.

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May 19, 2010 10:31 AM   

I can't WAIT for teabaggers and progressives to get together. Meet me down at the corporate banker's house with a pitchfork.

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May 19, 2010 1:00 PM   

A move toward the more progressive Dem candidates was the trend I saw last night as well. Yet what is the MSM hawking today? It was all about anti-incumbent sentiment and how that's going to cost the Dems big-time come November. Leaving the ersatz profession of journalism was one of the best thing I ever did for my karma.

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May 19, 2010 1:58 PM   

"My belief is that progressive Dems are a lot more appealing to mainstream voters than tea party advocates,"

Howard Dean,

You are so right, mainstream voters are now made up of 'non-citizens' and progressive seditious, these voters do prefer the 'Living Constitution' to the Constitution and 'Rulers Law' to the 'Rule of Law'.

Thanks Howard for making a great argument for validating U.S. Citizenship when people register to vote and vote...soon your dirty little secret will be common knowledge!

Very soon all States within this Union will have Photo ID and validation of citizenship Laws to prevent your vision of 'mainstream voters' from voting, remember only citizens are entitled to vote...lets enforce the law to keep it that way!

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May 19, 2010 2:28 PM    in reply to DugFmJamul

Ha ha ha! You must be kidding! There is absolutely no evidence anywhere of illegals voting in elections. None. Zip. Nada. The right wingers in the Bush justice department tried like hell to whip up some shit soup on this and failed miserably. The rethug party however never fails to play as many dirty tricks on voter rolls as they can and there is plenty of examples of that.

America is a country of immigrants plain and simple. If you don't like that you don't like America.

The original constitution enshrined slavery as the law of the land and counted Africans as 3/5 of a person. Gotta love that "LIVING CONSTITUTION" !!! Where the hell would we be without it???

Any other stupid shit that bothers you this AM?

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May 19, 2010 8:15 PM    in reply to hollywood

You're so lazy that you could not even go down two posts to click the link to answer some of your questions...like I said before...

...I can lead a 'Jack-Ass' to water but I can't make it drink!

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May 19, 2010 5:07 PM    in reply to DugFmJamul

Indiana requires ID's to vote. For the first time in 35 years, the state voted for the Democrat (Obama) for president.

Bahd-jes? We don't need no stinking bahd-jes.

Ohhh, we're soooo scared of your South Afrikaner ID laws.

BTW - Illegal immigrants don't vote. Show me some creditable evidence to dispute that.

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May 25, 2010 2:34 AM    in reply to colonpowwow

Indiana's 2008 presidential vote for President Barack Obama (D-Illinois) was the first for a Democratic candidate since the massive 1964 landslide by Lyndon Johnson (D-Texas). Before that, the Hoosier State voted for Franklin Roosevelt's (D-New York) first two elections, 1932 and 1936. The state has a presidential voting record closely connected to the likes of North Dakota and South Dakota (1920-2004).

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May 19, 2010 4:03 PM   

Ha...Ha...Ha! You must be a seditious progressive without an gram of 'Common Sense'. There is tons of evidence everywhere of illegals and non-citizens voting, you just have to be objective and nonpartisan to find out for yourself!

The Threat of Non-Citizen Voting

While I do not intend to argue this question on the present occasion, let me ask, if it be not somewhat singular that, if the Constitution were intended to be, by its framers and adopters, a slave-holding instrument, why neither slavery, slaveholding, nor slave can anywhere be found in it.--Frederick Douglass

Like most seditious progressives you misread, twist and warp the Constitution to suite your socialist dogma, the Constitution never promoted slavery or condone slavery only protected the institution for Southern States inclusion into the Union.

The Founders hoped the institution of slavery would be vanquished from the Union within twenty-five years after the adoption of the Constitution. Unfortunately with the invention of the 'Cotton Gin' slavery became more profitable for the Southern States and it took 'Republicans' to end the institution of slavery in America.

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May 19, 2010 5:02 PM    in reply to DugFmJamul

Did you seriously just claim the Heritage Foundation is objective and nonpartisan? Please quit trolling.

And you think that the Constitution in its original form didn't condone slavery because it wasn't mentioned by name? Have you never heard of a euphemism?

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May 19, 2010 5:14 PM    in reply to Red XIV

No...I made no such claim about the Heritage Foundation, only that one has to be objective and nonpartisan to find the truth about non-citizens voting! To say the Heritage Foundation can not be objective on the issue of non-citizens voting would be a grave error! If you want to continue to ignore the truth about non-citizens voting...continue to ignore the Heritage Foundation and John Fund!

Surly you can find the truth in both progressive and conservative organizations regardless of one's prejudices, correct?

I just think conservative organizations are closer to the truth and the Constitution than progressive ones!

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May 26, 2010 12:48 PM    in reply to DugFmJamul

Yes, I'll certainly continue to ignore right-wing nuts like the Heritage Foundation and John Fund.

Liberal groups are by their nature closer to the truth and the Constitution than conservative ones.

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May 26, 2010 12:55 PM    in reply to Red XIV

You are insane if you really believe in your last post...get some help because the 'truth' no longer is part of your life.

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May 19, 2010 5:16 PM   

If I Google 'ass backward' does give me all the links to your contrarian brain defect?

Are you eating enough fiber?

Watch Glen Beck much?

( He is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ you know! )

You better get a chalkboard yourself so you can keep it all straight and logical and explain it to the other 'guests' at the 'rest home'.

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May 19, 2010 5:58 PM    in reply to hollywood

Well, I can lead a 'Jack-Ass' to water but I can't make it drink!

For the record I was being 'Glen Beck' on the Constitution before Beck was Beck!

I don't have Beck's talent or chalkboard, radio or cable shows which spread the word about the Constitution and the ills of Obama.

Glen Beck's chalkboard lessons on Obama, government, the Constitution are priceless and should be reviewed by every red-blooded American Patriot. Obama still hasn't called Beck's red-phone to correct Beck's facts, so Obama has defaulted the truth to Beck...America wins...Obama loses!

I'm feel sorry for people that just can't see the chalkboard or 'Glen Beck' for what it is...the truth!

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May 19, 2010 10:01 PM   

No evidence of illegals voting hollywoo? What exactly would you consider a credible source on the matter? Would a U.S. House of Representatives be considered a reliable source. Because the House determined that in a 1996 congressional race in california 748 votes were cast and initially recorded by illegal aliens. These votes were only disqualified after a lengthy investigation by a contested election task force set up by the house. Those votes by the way represented about 75% of the margin of victory in that race. I doubt that race is an isolated incident, and with razor thin margins in many races these days it is possible perhaps even likely that illegals have provided the margin of victory in some races

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May 19, 2010 11:04 PM   

the rest of us are willing to do our part

Tell A Friend to REGISTER TO VOTE-- 71.3 million eligible voters did not vote, and 15.4 million registered voters didn’t cast a ballot

Absentee Voting -- Fast. Simple. Practical Democracy.
http://www.canivote.org/

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June 6, 2010 2:01 AM   

I suppose that may work to dem's advantage as the repubs continue to nominate really scary individuals that most of the electorate (and the clearly motivated Dems) could not vote for.

I don't think Dems will gain seats in November but I dought we are looking at the shift that the MSM is playing up. (I suppose w/ Fox's ratings dominance, the entire MSM is trying to "OutFox" each other)

and yet the myth of the "Liberal Media" lives on...

m65 kamagra

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