TWO CHOICES FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: HOWARD DEAN GOES WITH THE FUTURE; HAROLD FORD, THE PAST

Yesterday Howard Dean did the smart thing and picked Denver as the site of the 2008 Democratic Party Convention. "I am delighted to announce that the city of Denver will host the 2008 Democratic National Convention. I congratulate Mayor Hickenlooper, Governor Ritter, Senator Salzar and the members of the Denver Host Committee for assembling an outstanding bid that demonstrates the community's commitment to organizing a first-rate national convention that will put our nominee on the path to victory in 2008. There is no question," said DNC Chairman Dean, "that the West is important to the future of the Democratic Party. The recent Democratic gains in the West exemplify the principle that when we show up and ask for people's votes and talk about what we stand for, we can win in any part of the country.
Additionally, we have a number of strong Democratic leaders in the West who will be a part of showcasing the vision of Democratic leadership for America as we introduce the next Democratic President in the Rocky Mountains."

Way on the other end of the Democratic spectrum-- where Republicans disguised as "Democrats" lurk in the weeds-- the DLC, which had earlier tried to have the wildly popular Dean replaced with reactionary loser Harold Ford, had to face up to the fact that their own chairman, Tom Vilsack, could no longer support their Republican-leaning policies, neither foreign nor domestic. Vilsack told them he wanted out and that From and Reed had better find some new patsy. Who better worse than... Ford?

Ford is a right-of-center Democrat, with a record of bad political instincts and corruption-- all the right qualities to shill for the pro-corporate, anti-worker/anti-consumer DLC. He's the next Joe Lieberman. You might not remember when Ford challenged Nancy Pelosi for the position of House minority leader, the position that led to the speakership. That campaign, even more than his abysmal voting record, shows exactly why the DLC losers were attracted to him:

The Tennessee Democrat was not as coy about his criticism of Pelosi, calling her "a throwback" and characterizing her style as one of "destructive opposition. We need leadership that is constructive, and not destructive and obstructive," he said. Ford sounded a bit like Ross Perot in 1992 Friday, touting his candidacy as the true avatar of change. He offered himself as "something new and different," a break with "the same old ways of the past," without delving into specific ways in which his leadership would be different than Pelosi's.

"My caucus needs change, and I don't think Nancy Pelosi represents change," Ford said.

Ford's harsh words could be the script for Republican attack ads against Pelosi if she defeats her upstart challenger....

[Ford] says the struggle for the ideological soul of the Democratic Party will be played out in his race against Pelosi. "I don't think Nancy Pelosi's kind of politics is what's needed right now," he said. "Nancy's message, and the course she wants to take us on is not where America wants to go."

Just like a horse and buggy: Harold Ford and the DLC.


UPDATE: WHY DID VILSACK REALLY QUIT THE REACTIONARY DLC?

Radar, which broke the story originally, has their own update going into the reasons why Harold Ford is taking over as head of the DLC. "Announcing his resignation, Vilsack was careful to position it as a natural consequence of his decision to run for president in 2008. 'As a candidate for president, I am responsible for articulating my views about the future of our country and the importance of having the courage to create change in America,' he said in a statement. 'Harold Ford has earned his reputation as a persuasive advocate for the Democratic Party and will do a great job as chairman of the DLC.' But while Vilsack's statement cited 'the precedent established by former DLC Chair Bill Clinton,' who resigned in advance of his 1992 White House bid, a Washington source says there was an additional factor in his departure: the widening rift between Vilsack and DLC's permanent leadership over what to do about the crisis in Iraq."

The DLC's reactionary, pro-corporate head honchos, Al From and Will Marshall, widely distrusted by Democrats outside the Beltway, represent the minuscule Lieberman faction of the Democratic Party and are calling for escalation in Iraq and an expanded war. These two have as much to do with the Democratic Party's values and principles as Vidkun Quisling had to do with Norway's struggle against Nazi domination. Like Bush and McCain and Lieberman, From and Marshall (and presumably Ford) want to escalate the war in Iraq, while Vilsack has been forthright in his belief in ending it... asap. There's no doubt From and Marshall will be a lot happier with Ford-- and Vilsack will be a lot happier with Democrats.