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It may be too early to talk about DNC Chairman Howard Dean's legacy, but his leadership at the DNC is being called into question and that is hurting potential candidates.
While Dean is criticized by Republicans for lacking vision and stressing the negative, Democrats are beginning to distance themselves from Dean saying his rhetoric does not reflect Democrat values and vision. Dean has fallen behind in fundraising, preferring to use the Internet to garner small amounts from many donors. Meanwhile, big Democrat donors are sitting on the sidelines with their wallets closed.
With this change in strategy in fundraising and contention between Dean's aides and the fundraisers at the DNC, three top level fundraisiers have left the DNC. All still support the party, but see problems with Dean's leadership, his aides, and what little strategy the party has.
Dean's rhetoric against Republicans and voters in red states plus his fundraising strategy will not serve the party well. It is unlikely that big Democrat donors will defect to the Republicans, but they may not provided much needed funds for the party to support candidates in 2006.
Dean's legacy will be, unless the Democrats find a new chairman, will be the end of the Democrat party.
Fundraisers jilt Dean
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Other interesting stories
A federal appeals court upheld to Florida laws that require sex offenders to register with the state and submit a DNA sample.
A group of sex offenders challenged the law as violations of their federal constitutional rights, but the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed. I guess these felons forgot they lose most of their constitutional rights upon conviction.
The requirement is "rationally related to a legitimate government interest," Judge Stanley F. Birch Jr. wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel.
Court Upholds Fla. Sex Offender Registry - Yahoo! News
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The Senate is set to debate and confirm the second of three "controversial" judicial nominees.
Today the Senate will vote to end debate and then vote to confirm California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown to a seat on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Brown' was nominated in 2003, but Democrats have held up the nomination with filibusters.
The big question will be whether the fourteen "moderate" senators be able to uphold the agreement to end filibusters for judicial nominees except in "extraordinary circumstances." Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is unlikely to vote to end debate or for confirmation. He recently said that "radical judges are not worthy of our time."
Liberal and Democrat groups are still hoping that Brown's nomination will be held up or defeated by the Senate. They have portrayed her as a conservative activist judge who ignores the law in favor of her own political views. This is in sharp contrast to the liberal activist judges who ignore the law and the constitution in favor of a progressive agenda that liberal and Democrats favor.
Senators Set to Confirm Judicial Nominees - Yahoo! News
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John Kerry may not be the scholar and intellectual he claims to be.
While Kerry's full Navy record has not been released to the public, a transcript of his academic record has been released. Until recently Kerry fought to keep his Navy record a secret, a secret that included his Yale transcript.
During his four year';s at Yale, Kerry's grades were virtually identical to those of President George W. Bush. Bush readily admits that he was a lackluster student. Kerry, on the other hand, has given the impression that he was an outstanding student.
During his freshman year, Kerry received four Ds. His record improved during his final three years receiving an additional D in his sophomore year. Kerry's highest mark in four years was an 89, which converts to a B on the Yale grading scale.
While attempting to shift focus from his lackluster performance, Kerry said in a written statement, "I always told my Dad that D stood for distinction." Well senator, my dad, as well as, most dads know what a D stands for. I guess you were starting early to try to avoid the issues.
Despite his mediocre record, Kerry was selected to give the senior class oration. This is an honor, usually, reserved for top students. Perhaps, money and politics had something to do with this too.
Yale grades portray Kerry as a lackluster student - The Boston Globe - Boston.com - Washington - News
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More later.
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