I was the precinct/ward organizer for one of the medium-large counties in MI. You'd think, as a grassroots organizer for one of the must-win areas in MI, I'd have heard from you, or at least known that you valued my work and that you were listening to my good ideas.

But you see, the volunteers who ran our grassroots never attended one of the state meetings. Nor did we see you locally (suffice it to say we're accessible to both Lansing and Detroit). The people who attended meetings were the paid people--some might call them consultants, part of that aristocracy you claim to want to get rid of.

I don't really care that I wasn't invited to meetings--I was spending 10-60 hours a week volunteering, I didn't need more meetings (although I think it belies your claim for inclusion at every level).

But I do care that every time we tried to do something at a local level because IT MADE SENSE, we either had to lie, subject our paid staffers to berating in those weekly meetings, or just try to fudge the numbers. That is, not only did the MI coordinated campaign NOT listen to local leaders, it forced local leaders to manipulate the system in order to do what we knew to be right.

Now I'm willing to see you provide proof that you can change--that your leadership of the DNC would be different from what I saw in MI. But barring that I really can't see throwing you a lot of support. You talk a good talk. But your proven record doesn't match that talk, at least not from the perspective of this local grassroots leader.

I'm not a highly paid professional political operative...but I guarantee that conversation and role-play would have taken place where I or any other of hundreds of experienced politcal types in charge.

Why do you think he was on the Clark Campaign such a short period of time? Let's see....Wes Clark madee his decision late in the afternoon on September 15, 2003, announced on Sept 17, 2003 and Fowler resigned October 8, 2003. Why is his presidential campaign chairmanship even mentioned?

Leaving while publicly claiming to have been championing the 'rights' of the Draft Movement participants, the reality is that he was asked to take a secondary role...and he petulantly picked up his toys...went home AND TALKED TO THE PRESS ABOUT IT!

That wasn't loyal professional political technique then or now.

Frankly, I can't see what the impediments were towards making any of the so-called "innovative programs" work in Michigan during this last campaign. If MoveOn could do them, why weren't they already implemented?

If this didn't get done at state level, what's to say they'll get done at national?

This interchange says a lot more about a lack of ability to work with people than it does anything else.

Whatever else the new DNC Chair does...he/she must be able to work with people who really disagree with them...and still make progress towards a greater goal. Fowler has NEVER shown a bit of success at a high level in his work.