The persistence of Howard Dean

[dArKeR]

Certitude, combativeness have brought
Democratic front-runner success so far

A little over a year ago, on Oct. 6, 2002, I met Howard Dean for the first time at a coffee shop in Denver. Dean, in between visits to Iowa, was stopping in Colorado to campaign for Democratic Senate candidate Tom Strickland. What stood out in our hourlong talk that day was his absolute self-assurance and bristling combativeness toward George W. Bush. “I’m tired of my party being bullied by the right wing,” he said that day.

WHAT STRIKES me today, a year later, having seen Dean’s phenomenal success as a presidential contender, is the circular quality of this Democratic contest.
Dean is reverting to the very same theme that he started with: Why don’t Democrats stand up and fight President Bush?
“The deal I’m going to make with you is: If you make me the Democratic nominee, I’ll make you proud to be Democrats again,” he has told crowds on the campaign trail day after day for the last several months.
In Sunday night’s debate with his eight adversaries, Dean again scolded Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry as he has so many times before.

http://msnbc.com/news/986258.asp?0cv=CB10

I hope Dean can add some humor and friendliness to his debates/speaking!

Example: 2 debates ago. Kerry's aid passes a note to the Mod. about Dean tried to cut something. Dean got a little frazzled. Dean should have gotten up and looked Kerry in the eye and put his arm on Kerry's shoulder and smiled. 'Hey Chief, you didn't have to throw a pass. I'm the coach, just ask me directly.'

We all know things are in a terrible mess but you can't always have a frown.

I guess what I mean is Dean relax and act like a friendly guy too.

2nd. I think Dean should always wear a tie and jacket. It's looks more impressive. Looks more intelligent. Looks more professional. (coming from me who hates suits, dress-up, shoes, make-up, high-heeled shoes...) It's 50% playing a show for the audience. If you don't realize that you shouldn't be in politics.

[pasadenaboy]

1. I don't think he should wear a tie

He has a funny looking neck when he wears a tie.

[On the Road]

2. I Think Dean is the New Comeback Kid

A lot of it's intangible. A lot of it's the ability not to be part of their movie, but to make them part of your movie. No "on the one hand, on the other hand" speeches. In Ted Rall's equation, Bush's extremity demands this quality from a Dem candidate.

I think Dean will get friendly with the camera. I think he's done so in some interviews already. He's becoming more comfortable with the front-runner status.

After the last debate, the candidate I worry about is Wesley Clark. This is not meant as a slur -- I would be happy if he won the nomination. But he allowed himself to be defined by the questions and he had that "deer in the headlights" look. He's a smart candidate and I hope he bounces back like Dean did after the Tim Russert interview.

[VolcanoJen]

3. Not LBN... locking

This is a great Dean piece, but it really just provides a broad overview of his campaign by the author. Unfortunately, there really isn't any late breaking news in this article that hasn't already been covered in the post-debate LBN threads.

It's a great article and shouldn't be missed, and I hope you'll repost it in the Politics & Campaigns or Editorials & Other Articles Forum(s).

Thanks!
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator