Chairman Dean

It's official: Howard Dean has become the Chairman of the Democratic Party. Today, members of the DNC overwhelmingly voted in People Powered Howard as the next leader of our great party.

NPI applauds and commends the selection of Howard Dean as the new Chairman of the Democratic Party. Dean has the vision, passion, charisma, and support of the grassroots that we need to become effective again. With Dean at the helm, NPI is confident that the Democratic Party can triumph over the Republicans in 2006 and 2008.

Our new Chairman gave a powerful inaugural speech, which you can read in full here. Here's some of our favorite excerpts:

We know that we're the party for young Americans looking for a government that speaks to them… we know that we're the party for working Americans desperate for a government that looks out for them… and we know that we're the party for older Americans and veterans and members of the Armed Services expecting and deserving a government that honors them.

And we know that no matter where you live or who you are, what you look like or how you worship, ours is the diverse party that welcomes you.

But right now, as important as all of that is… it is not enough. We have to move forward. We cannot win if all we are is against the current President.

The first thing we have to do is stand up for what we believe in.

We Democrats believe in fiscal responsibility and we're the only ones who have delivered it.

The first time our nation balanced its budget, it was Andrew Jackson, father of the Democratic Party, who did it. The last time our nation balanced its budget, it was Bill Clinton who did it. Democratic governors do it every single year.

Not one Republican President has balanced the budget in almost 40 years. Borrow and spend. Borrow and spend. Borrow and spend. Americans cannot trust the Republicans with their money.

Americans want a strong and smart national security.

It was Democrats who pushed to create a Department of Homeland Security. It was Democrats who pushed to make our airlinessafer. It is Democrats who are now working to make sure we close the remaining gaps in our security. It was Democrats who demanded reform of the intelligence community.

And it is Democrats who are pushing for a foreign policy that honestly deals with the threats of today, and the threats of tomorrow — like securing the nuclear materials around the world.

Republicans had to be dragged kicking and screaming to our side on all of these issues. There is no reason for Democrats to be defensive on national defense.

An excellent speech. Now, the Democratic Party must move forward: we must show up in every state and we must fight to win. With the election of Howard Dean as Chairman, Democrats are sending a signal: we will not resign ourselves to being a minority party. Under Chairman Dean, we will fight and win in 2006 and 2008. Now is the time to contribute to the Democratic Party. We must make Republicans come to remember in fear the day Howard Dean became our Chairman.

Onward and forward.