The American Spectator, “Howie and Harry” (via RedState and Vodkapundit):
It appears that the Democrat Party is closer to imploding than the Republican. How else to explain the ongoing attempts by Democrat Party Chairman Howard Dean to destroy Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid?
According to knowledgeable DNC sources, Dean about ten days ago was shown opposition research documents generated by the Republican National Committee more than three years ago, which laid out facts regarding Reid and his family’s lobbying and ethical conflicts.
Dean, according to the sources, was fascinated by the details, and asked that his staff research and independently confirm everything on the documents. “Basically he oppo’d a member of his own party,” says a DNC source loyal to Dean.
“Basically, we were looking at three- or four-page documents that made Jack Abramoff’s lobbying work look like that of a rank amateur,” says the DNC source. “Between the minority leader’s past in Nevada and here in Washington, and the activities of his sons and son-in-law, there probably isn’t anyone in this town with more conflicts. The Reid family is the symbol of what’s wrong with Washington; it’s their behavior that enabled the culture that spawned people like Abramoff.”
Dean then went public over the weekend, saying that Democrats with an Abramoff problem would be in trouble, not only with voters, but with the Democrat Party. But why attack a senior member of his own party?
According to Democrat Party watchers and DNC staff, Dean has grown increasingly frustrated at how he is treated by the likes of Reid, Sen. Dick Durbin, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who leads the House Democrat candidate recruitment effort. “They treat him like a lackey, not as an equal,” says another DNC employee. “Just last week, they were all badmouthing his fundraising activities, when clearly he’s done a good job. What this comes down to a fight for the soul of our party, and if the chairman has to draw a long knife on a few of his colleagues, he’s more than willing to do so.”
Rumor, innuendo, and speculation, sure. But it would at least partially explain Dean’s cryptic remark that should members of his own party have dubious connection to Abramoff, they could—and should—expect trouble. Which, let’s face it: coming from Howard Dean, such a message is curious.
Of course, it’s just as likely we’re giving Dean too much credit for political calculation. Perhaps, as is so often the case with the DNC leader, he just didn’t know when to keep his pouty pie hole shut.
Time for Allah to do a new “Deano” series?
SB: arms
a call to
Somewhere in a dark and sinister command room, a hooded and cloaked Karl Rove is looking down at a small, flickering image of Howard Dean and intoning the words “Well done, my apprentice.”
More please.
Mmmmmm…..pouty pie-hole.
hmmm… that does seem a little too politically astute a move for Dean…
That leaves a few possibilities – either he lucked into it, or he’s actually learning.
How much would every neo-con love to see Dean eviscerate his own party from within leading up to November?
I DEMAND PIE-HOLE!
[…]
Wait, that just sounds nasty.
Pelosi probably hands him her purse when she enters the room and barks, “that’s a non-fat, venti with a double shot and TWO packets of Splenda, Dr. Dean…”
Or he could, y’know, just stab them. But that would be less artistic.
Howard seems unnaturally gifted at making enemies. If you’ll recall, when Dean was nominated to chair the DNC, the right was insane with excitement over the potential gaffes and blunders he’d make. I think he’s actually exceeded some of the hopes and dreams of those heady days. Spending the Dems into the poor house, backing all the losing propositions, alienating every voting adult, and frequently and visibly undercutting his own party.
I have to second Scott Free—the Republicans couldn’t have found someone more toxic and divisive to fill that role if they’d installed Markos Moulitsas himself. Ok, maybe Michael Moore, but he’s in a league all his own.
TW: You go girl!
Somewhere an enterprising member of the military industrial complex is combining Dean’s 2004 battle cry with Ted Kennedy’s anti-Alito meltdown into a super weapon.
No word on whether the entire planet will be threatened if the outcome is combined with Bjork recordings.
My vote is a resounding, “I’m digging a hole.”
There once was a Doctor named Dean,
who habitually vented his spleen.
now his latest screed, against Harry Reid
proves he’s both crazy AND mean.
The Demo’s are now all confused.
For one of their own stands accused
How can they get Ney, or even Delay,
When the rules they themselves have abused?
Oddly enough, I was just blogging on a closely related topic, speculating that the Democratic Party really is acting patriotically. Maybe they’ve heroically thrown themselves under the bus – or, a sort of imperfect tense might be more appropriate: maybe they keep on throwing themselves under the bus – in order to solidify the American will on the other side.
Here you go, anyone bored in the run-up to the address: http://thelipstickrepublican.blogspot.com/2006/01/moment-of-clarity.html
P.S. I love limericks, pvrwc!
TW: I found myself with a little too much free time today.
Howard Dean = Australia’s Mark Latham? Except he doesn’t know when to go home?
Hmmm.
1. I still cannot believe that every single Republican I knew was telling Democrats to *not* select Howard Dean for that spot. It’s even more unbelievable that many chose him *because* Republicans told them not to.
2. “a long knife”.
So will there be a Democratic night of the “long knives”? If it’s on a night with a full moon that’ll be just too wierd.
A moonbatty night of the long knives.
3. So. How did Howard Dean get ahold of a Republican oppo-research piece from 3 years ago pray tell?
Man I’ve got to admit. I frankly don’t think Karl Rove really does anything. Then this crap shows up and it just gives me the creeps.
Who needs Hari Seldon when we’ve got Karl Rove?
Conservative-Fu, Jedi Mind Tricks, or just plain Dem stupidity? None but Karl will ever know.
To be honest, I’m less than comfortable with the fall of the Democratic Party myself—there needs to be a viable alternative. I’m just hoping that the split between social conservatives and South Park Republicans doesn’t occur until the nuts on the left have ruly self-destructed.
Hmmmm.
Frankly I feel the same way. My family are Democrats, I’m the lone independent now, and have been Democrats for many generations. Watching the Democratic party implode and explode simultaneously is pretty ugly.
But there’s no stopping the freight train when it’s gone runaway.
Years ago a political cartoon depicted a tired old post-retirement Tip O’Neal standing on a concrete block out in some car graveyard like the obsolete political Nash Rambler he was.
Would that would soon happen to Reid. The man is almost as much a menace as he is a disgrace.
tw: Working to bring the Dems down.
Chris Matthews whacked him with it in an interview the other day.