"I think the big [reason we won] is because we went to every state and asked everybody for their vote. ... It's a sign of respect to ask people for their vote. Democrats have been afraid to go in a lot of places, and we won in a lot of those places."
---DNC Chairman Howard Dean Wednesday night on The Daily Show
Some big name Democrats want to oust DNC Chairman Howard Dean, arguing that his stubborn commitment to the 50-state strategy and his stinginess with funds for House races cost the Democrats several pickup opportunities.
Says James Carville, one of the anti-Deaniacs, "Suppose Harold Ford became chairman of the DNC? How much more money do you think we could raise? Just think of the difference it could make in one day. Now probably Harold Ford wants to stay in Tennessee. I just appointed myself his campaign manager."
---The New Republic
Memo to Carville:
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Let's face it: everybody screws up. There's not one of us who hasn't.
---From Buck Up, Suck Up...and Come Back When You Foul Up by James Carville and Paul Begala
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Instead of spitting into the wind, sir, you might want to listen to DSCC chairman Chuck Schumer, who weighed in last night on Dean's 50-state strategy...
From last night's
Real Time with Bill Maher:
Bill Maher: Howard Dean's plan was to run in fifty states. I've read that you and Rahm Emmanuel opposed that plan. Wasn't [Dean] right?
Chuck Schumer: Well, I think running in fifty states is a good plan and we never opposed the plan. We just wanted him to do some of each at once: help us with some resources so we could win back the House and Senate and, at the same time, build a fifty-state plan.
I have to tell you, at least from the Senate point of view, Dean did a good job for us. The DNC gave or raised seven-point-five million dollars to us in that crucial final month and it helped put us over the top. So Howard Dean and I don't have any problem and I think he should pursue his fifty-state strategy.
At the same time, he was able to help us and should get some credit for the great victory that we had Tuesday.
So there.
P.S. JEERS to Maher for providing the latest entry into the Follow-up Question Hall of Shame:
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But, still, you're not going to scream like him?
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Oh, my sides, they hurt.
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