ncdp

For the Good of the Party on Vimeo.

Comments disabled: I've decided to put a temporary moratorium on intraparty feuding, just for a few days. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

I am inclined to support Randy Voller. He may be rough around the edges and more than a little impatient, but that's what I like most about him. The fact that he's not a well-oiled insider is nothing but plus in my book.

Is he perfect? Of course not. Who is?

I understand that some of his actions may have overstepped his authority according to the Democratic Party rules of organization. If that's the clearly the case, he should apologize, fix things, and get back to work. If it's more of a judgment call, I say give him the benefit of the doubt and let him do his job.

We'll find out soon enough if he can deliver. If he can't, we should fire him and move on. But in the meantime, the least we can do is get out of his way and give him room to run.

Offered without comment

Update: Comments closed. As I said on another thread, take this circular firing squad crap somewhere else. I'd welcome a reasoned, fact-based conversation about such matters, but you folks are going off the deep end.

It's no wonder so many people check out of politics.

Lots of routine comments to start.
Nice speech by Parker.
Etheridge nominated
Voller nomination in progress.

We're fast approaching the SEC meeting, in which the Democratic Party's elite will choose the people who will run things during one of our most challenging times, and I'm starting to feel nauseated. That's not a figure of speech. I'm talking about that feeling where strange things are afoot on a gastro-intestinal level, and there's a distinct possibility you may actually throw up sometime in the near future. So you contemplate fluffy bunnies or Zen koans or anything else that will trick your body into calming down. Why am I nauseated? Because Rome is burning, and the only people who can fix it are acting not unlike the Crips and the Bloods, where the color of your bandana is more important than what you can think or do.

Rumors abound, since Dr Mansfield dropped out of the race for NCDP Chair and Chris Rey said he would not run, that Bob Etheridge would emerge as the last great hope for the folks wedded to the older and losing parts of the NCDP, either because they are older and set in their ways, or younger and used to getting their ways from the older set. I would suppose that some have weighed in with Bob (I am sort of really old, and he is my age) to come and be the chair so they could continue to have their own ways. I understand why the consultant mafia would want him back, and the monied elites want to exercise control over "their investment", particularly Senator Hagan and her crowd.

Over the past two years, Democrats have suffered from significant losses, including losing majorities in the state house, congressional seats, and both the Governor and Lt. Governor races.

Where some see devastation and fear the loss of influence that has sent transactional donors to the new power brokers in the General Assembly and the Governor's Mansion, I see opportunity.

My friend, Eric Mansfield, is a great public servant and a true leader for our state. While I am sad that this chapter must come to a close, I hope he will continue to find ways to serve — after he stands by his Mother during her time of need. He offered a message for our Party that needed to be heard. When he was attacked in recent weeks he maintained his sense of grace and optimism about our Party. Eric has a bright future ahead despite the claims of some who would drive our Party to irrelevancy in a quest for absolutism.

I hope that a great candidate will emerge for Party Chair. We need a Chair who offers a new plan for our Party, something I have not seen as of yet.

***

When I announced for Chair of our great Democratic Party I said that we must develop a strategy that would lead to greater mobilization, inspiring messaging, increased fundraising and a Party that was mended.

Greetings Fellow Democrats:

The announcement of Organizing for Action disturbs me. Many of you know how I have objected to the way that OFA (whether Obama For America or Organizing For America) interfered with what we do as officers or delegates of the Democratic Party. It seemed as though OFA was trying to set itself up as a structure that was parallel to and yet separate from the Democratic Party almost as though they wanted to usurp the traditional role of the Democratic Party and possible supersede it.

If you ever doubted it - here is the proof and others are noticing it too:

If it is able to sustain the passion that propelled Obama twice into the White House, the pro-Obama group may outstrip the role played by traditional interest groups, from organized labor to the environmental movement, and could form an independent power base outside the White House and the Democratic Party.