Damn. Excellent endorsement. (4.00 / 3)

This is such an elegant statement of something we've all watched:

So while Hillary took online suggestions for a campaign song, Dodd took online suggestions for filibuster reading material. While Obama built up his MySpace account, Dodd and his team built tools to route anti-FISA calls to Senators. While other campaigns invited bloggers to phone calls where the latest talking points were recycled, Dodd invited us into war-room like sessions where the strategy for cutting war funding was discussed and explained.

Then there's this:

Personally, I believe we are at a 1932 moment in history. The last gasp of the Reaganism that tainted even the Clinton administration is being played out on that Republican debate stage. After November, they will sweep the remains of that grand movement into the dustbin of history.

You could choose those that stood back, and waited until history was on their side before they moved bold agendas forward. You could hope that their theories of change were correct.

Or you could choose the person, who, against all odds, advanced the progressive agenda through every means at his disposal.

I know another blogger who believes we're at a 1932 moment who would at the same time argue that FDR did not run on change as he governed for change and that we can't know the same wouldn't happen now.  But certainly this is a powerful statement, and a powerful endorsement with a great deal to consider, whatever our leanings.

---

by: Laura Clawson @ Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 20:29:50 PM CST

I Lived in Connecticut for 40 years (0.00 / 0)

Chris Dodd was almost always a solid vote for the Ted Kennedy Liberal wing of the Democratic party, hell they dogged DC together in their single years. Buddies and legislative allies.
But;

You could choose those that stood back, and waited until history was on their side before they moved bold agendas forward. You could hope that their theories of change were correct.

does not describe a senator who after 18 years was relatively unknown out side the Nutmeg State and D.C. at the beginning of his run. A task that was daunting if literally not impossible before it began.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/n...
Dodd's Showing In Polls Laughable
At Least Comedians Have Noticed It

By DAVID LIGHTMAN
Washington Bureau Chief

January 31 2007

WASHINGTON -- When pollster John Zogby asked a group of 339 likely Democratic voters earlier this month whom they wanted for president in 2008, one or two mentioned Connecticut's senior senator.

One or 2 percent mentioned Christopher Dodd?

No. One or two people, Zogby said.

"I'm competing with the margin of error in most polls," Chris Dodd grinned as he described his underdog status recently to a New Hampshire audience.

He should be so lucky. The margin of error was 5.4 percentage points.

In the Zogby America poll, Dodd registered as a hyphen - a placeholder indicating he polled at less than 1 percent.

Even 2004 candidate Joe Lieberman, who is not running this year, got 2 percent of likely voters saying they favored him.

Of course, that survey was taken the week before Jan. 11, when Dodd formally announced his intention to run. Surely he'd get a boost from his national shout-out on "Imus in the Morning" and his round of national network interviews.

Yup. He has soared to 1 percent, according to the Time Poll, the Opinion Research Corporation/CNN poll and Gallup. The ABC News/Washington Post survey, alas, still only rates him a hyphen.

That's because what you've seen during the campaign, laudible as it is, does not exactly describe his Senate career. I see what you see in him, he is a great Senator here,as far as it goes, here.

This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.

   Dorothy Parker

---

by: JonnyBBad @ Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 20:52:54 PM CST

[ Parent | ]

I read and respect that blogger (0.00 / 0)

I'd say though that FDR was an expert in getting things done -- policy aside.

Or maybe not.

It does get at a greater point, which I wanted to put in here but it wouldn't fit --

In one sense, it doesn't matter if Hillary wins, or Obama wins, or even Dodd wins -- precisely ecause people like Dodd and people like us will continue to exist outside the Presidency, calling it to account.

It's ultimately the strength of the movement that determines what we can accomplish -- which is one reason why I'm glad that Dodd has had such a galvanizing effect on the netroots. That will be a legacy no matter what happens.

---

by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 21:28:55 PM CST

[ Parent | ]

That's a great point. (0.00 / 0)

I can see where it would have been difficult to get in the endorsement, but keep it in mind for future posts - it's too good to let go of too easily.

---

by: Laura Clawson @ Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 21:49:10 PM CST

[ Parent | ]

I have not seen many (4.00 / 1)

of the campaigns use of the internet but as you point out it seems that Dodd and Perhaps rpaul (only from what I have heard) have leveraged it in the greatest fashion this cycle.

Perhaps we should give the Dodd Team the "Dean Award" for "Best use of the Internet in a Presidential Primary Campaign."

Hope > Fear

---

by: Mike Hoefer @ Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 23:00:56 PM CST

[ Parent | ]