My Father the Superdelegate and Why There's Nothing to Fear

My father Don Fowler is a superdelegate. I love my father, and I trust my father. And I gave up letting my father dictate my life since he determined how late I got to stay up at night.

So, as much as I love and respect him, I don't trust him and his fellow superdelegates to decide for me and the American people who should be the Democratic nominee.

Truth is, they won't decide the election.

There is a tremendous amount of discussion and even paranoia suggesting that a group of party insiders are already at work cutting some backroom deal to pick the nominee they want ... damn the will of the voters and damn the democratic process.

That's pretty much hogwash when one looks at who these superdelegates actually are.

On Tuesday, former DNC Chairman Don Fowler (1995-96) sent an email to many national Democratic Party leaders and several DNC members in response to calls for Howard Dean to be replaced. Here's what it said:

From: Don Fowler
To: [undisclosed]
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 3:39 PM
Subject: Dean should stay as Chair

Some ill-advised voices have suggested that, because of his 50-state strategy, Governor Dean should be replaced as Chair of the DNC.

This is nonsense.  The 50-state strategy is exactly what the Democratic Party needed and continues to need.  Why do the Washington people think that they have a special prerogative to dictate what the Democratic Party needs?

I hope that all DNC members will join me in rejecting this foolishness--from whatever source it came.

Democrats won a great victory on November 7--control of the United States House of Representatives, control of the United States Senate, majority of Governors, and majority of state legislative bodies.  Why should anyone want to mess with the team that won these remarkable results?

Governor Dean deserves to continue as DNC Chair.

From Wall Street Journal archives...
"Robert Gates, nominee to head CIA, testifies to 'misjudgments' in his handling of Iran-Contra affair and failure to more aggressively pursue evidence of improprieties in covert operation, Senate Intelligence Committee hearing; Gates finds himself on defensive and reduced to repeatedly saying he was unable to recall critical exchanges testified to by former CIA colleagues."

Congressional Record, 1991
Wikipedia

In every big election, conventional wisdom that forms before the election often becomes the accepted truth for what happened even after the election is over -- even when the facts prove otherwise.  Let's examine the developed conventional wisdom in the media and among those who want to take credit or give blame for what might happen in the next few hours as results come in.  Consider this as you watch coverage in the mainstream media and in the blogs (both of whom have opinion trends that often move in packs), and remember it when you see everyone handing out blame or taking credit for what happens.

THIS IS A NATIONAL ELECTION.  Depends on How You Look At It.
THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS IRAQ.  Nope.
LIBERAL POWER IS THE REASON FOR DEMOCRATIC VICTORIES.  Not Completely True.
REPUBLICANS LOST THIS ELECTION. DEMOCRATS DID NOT WIN IT.  Wrong.

A stem cell ad that has had a big impact on other Republican congressmen begins running today against California's Richard Pombo (CA-11).  The piece is paid for by Majority Action, the progressive House 527, which has run ads in another half-dozen districts around the country. One local newspaper in Republican Thelma Drake's Virginia hometown called it the most powerful ad to date" and DailyKos recommended a "Nobel prize for political ads."

FYI: Majority Action is led by veteran Democratic activists and has a leadership board that includes several former Members of Congress, two former Democratic National Committee Chairmen, and two former DCCC Chairmen.

Majority Action, the independent 527 shining a spotlight on House Republicans, today launched ads calling out several Republicans on their wrong-headed approach to science and medicine.  The ad was produced by folks who are new to the political media business -- a group from L.A.  You'll be able to tell by viewing the ads at Majority Action's website.

Republicans have made choices that pick ideology over life-saving medical research. They have chosen interest group politics over the ability of science to give families more options when making decisions about their health care.  

We're working hard so that they don't get away with it.

Here's a little about Tim Mahoney, the Democrat running for Mark Foley's seat and a TV ad of Bob Graham endorsing Mahoney for the seat.  

Mahoney is an entrepreneur and rancher from south Florida.  On Monday, the Republicans chose a new candidate to run for this seat instead of Foley, so Mahoney needs our help to make sure he can air these ads and help us add this seat to our majority.

Here's the ad of Bob Graham endorsing Mahoney:

If you would like to donate, go to Mahoney's website at www.timmahoneyforflorida.com

Majority Action today launched its first Internet ad criticizing Congressman James Walsh (NY-25) for his false claims on a radio call-in show in New York (WXXI 1370 AM "The Connection").  On talk radio show just a few days ago, Representative Walsh claimed that he never voted against the minimum wage, though he is on record doing so eight times.  He also refused to take responsibility for voting himself a pay raise while denying other New Yorkers a helping hand.  

Majority Action refused to let him get away with it...

Caller: "What about $5.25?  Why aren't you pushing for a better ..."
Walsh: "What is $5.25?"
Caller: "That's the national minimum wage."
Walsh: "I've never voted against the minimum wage.  That's not true."  

Actually, Walsh voted against raising the minimum wage EIGHT TIMES.

Caller: "You also voted to give yourself a raise during that same time period."
Walsh: "No.  Our pay raise is automatic."

As a matter of fact, Walsh voted to increase his pay SIX TIMES.

Typical Republican priorities: raise their own pay, refuse to bring the rest of America along with them.

Majority Action, which has already been the first group to incorporate text messaging into its television ads, began a series of Internet video releases today.