1115.org

Posted by Tom

Since the end of the Clinton era, the Democratic party has been meandering down the Yellow Brick Road of obscurity. While the party may have plenty of heart, it was sorely lacking in the brains and courage departments. After a long wait, the Wizard has finally presented himself and he’s not just a whiny old man behind a curtain. Instead he is Howard Dean, and he means business. Today the DNC sent out an email with their new plan for establishing a permanent Democratic infrastructure in each state, beginning with Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, and West Virginia.

It’s simply amazing what a sudden influx of brain power can do. This is certainly not rocket science; the fact that this idea is such an important step for the Democratic party is nothing if not a testament to how backwards thinking at party headquaters has been. Showing up for a couple months prior to an election isn’t how people are won over. A constant presence is necessary, a force working to integrate itself with the community, to work on the lowest levels of politics in each state to ensure that no election goes uncontested. As Dr. Dean said in the letter, “I am personally dedicated to making sure that every single state has the resources and infrastructure to compete at every level of office.” This is the kind of thinking that builds strong bonds with people, both within the party and outside of it, and it’s based on the most Democratic of ideas: the big guy helping the little guy step up his game. Each and every office counts in helping to build up from the very bottom not only the Democratic party, but the ideals it bases itself on. Being a party for the people means being a party OF the people, and there’s no better place to establish that than in the offices that have direct effects on peoples’ day-to-day lives.

Unquestionably the most important subtext in this announcement is the Big Picture outlook now being adopted under Dr. Dean. It’s no longer about trying to win things piece by piece in a never ending battle; the focus is on building overall strength so that those battles no longer need to be fought. All the annoying flying monkeys in the world won’t help the Republican party if the Dems can only get their message solidified in every community. An established and consistant message will trump any of the dirty tactics used by the right, but it takes a party with a strong will to get there. With the help of the Wizard Howard Dean, even the Wicked Witches of the South and Midwest will fall.

Ed. note by Matt: Tom isn’t yet convinced that you should actually donate money to the Democratic party, but Jason and I invite you to do just that. Dean is changing the way the party does business and the possible lost donations from corporate interests must be offset by small donations from concerned citizens. It’s your party, but it needs your help.)