The Phony Dean 'Meltdown' (Tompain.com)

[wroberts189]

snip..

It's true that Dean yelled at his Monday night rally in Iowa. And so what? Basically, at a pep rally, he yelled like a football coach. This is described as being "unpresidential." But says who? Besides, what's the definition of 'presidential?' Isn't giving insulting nicknames to world leaders unpresidential? Isn't sending hundreds of American soldiers to die for uncertain and misrepresented ends in Iraq unpresidential—or worth considering as such? Isn't having an incredibly poor grasp of essential world facts and an aversion to detail and active decision making unpresidential?

More..

The Phony Dean 'Meltdown'
http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/9815

[otohara]

1. Reality Check

thank you tompaine for putting perspective on this non-issue

[patricia92243]

2. If a person is the President - anything they do is "presidential"

[Oreegone]

3. My Feelings Exactly (edit)

Our media has become these paranhas that circle everyone, I do mean everyone looking for a taste of blood so the feeding frenzy can begin.

Twenty years ago this kind of journalism was called Yellow Journalism. Only the scummiest outlets indulged in this. Now the major networks are darned near down to the level of The National Enquirer...In fact sometimes they are a more reliable source. Never thought I would see that happen...truly sad. It's like the news is competing for the grossest Reality Show.

We will just watch to see who they get to jump of the bridge or vomit worms.........next.

Fortunately I know a lot of people that it became painfully aware this is what is going on through this bogus "news" story.

[Lisa]

4. I only wish more candidates cared this much about their workers!

I helped out on one campaign where we got clobbered badly, and the candidate muttered a couple of half-hearted platitudes and went home. (The last few days before the election, he didn't even bother leaving town to campaign! Sure, we knew we were going to lose, but would it have killed him to show a bit of enthusiasm?)

It was rather depressing for the volunteers -- especially for the idealistic youngsters (some of them barely old enough to vote) who had worked their hearts out because they believed in the party's platform. I was concerned that they might not want to get involved in politics again. Luckily one of the subordinates hosted a thank-you BBQ at her place.

If Dean decided to put on a show to stoke his team up ... more power to him. There are months left to go before November, and if what Michael Moore says about Dean's people being responsible for that impressive overall Dem turnout are true ... it would be bad news if they packed it in now. Turnout could decide this election!

Anyone who thinks Dean looked funny talking to the crowd ... they should see me when I'm trying to rev up a roomful of bored college students during an economics lecture. Maybe I couldn't out-yell him, but it would be pretty close!

[lyonn]

8. Really liked your comments

It seems when a politician speaks frankly they get abused. Bush tells really big ones and he gets a pardon? I'm so old that I believe in honesty, not platitudes. When someone like Dean truly appears to speak from his own rationale he is hammered. Other candidates are coached to the max and all appears to be "presidential." The only thing I can figure out about the general population who think Bush is doing it well is that they are in awe of where he came from (rich & powerful) and how they want to be a part of that by agreeing with him?

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. I saw clips of Dean from Monday night on British TV

and it wasn't very attractive. Yes, he yelled like a football coach - but a bad] football coach. Hoarse shouting doesn't achieve anything - it just seems like someone who's been shouting so long because no-one thinks what they're saying is worth listening to.

From what I've heard of him, I quite like him. But I think that far from Tom Paine's "As far as I can tell, the worst Howard Dean has done is to try to be himself. (And, when criticized for that, to show some willingness to alter his demeanor.)", he looked like someone pretending to feel passion. Maybe his judgement was that his campaign workers would respond to that - live audiences can get a different feeling for a speech than TV - but the general public saw manufactured aggression. And that's exactly what's been wrong with American foreign policy for the past 3 years.

[aintitfunny]

9. I saw the speech as it happened

And was slightly taken aback at the vehemence, but I did not see manufactured aggression. Perhaps the excitement was manufactured since losing Iowa had to be a disappointment. So mayhap it took a little effort on Dr. Dean's part to put on what he thought was a good, confident front. It is no less than any leader would try to do, cheer up his supporters, workforce, etc when faced with less than positive results. At the time I truly believed he was trying to rally the troops and nothing more. I personally saw a hoarse,exhausted man doing his utmost to keep his people excited. It was not fun to watch and it certainly did not seem to achieve the results he intended. However it was certainly understandable and forgivable. That it has has been used unmercifully as a club against him by all sides of the political spectrum and the media is sad. I liked Dean and he is one of my potential choices, but I am not committed to his campaign as of yet. I just don't really understand the maelstrom this has generated.

[tom_paine]

6. Just Corporate TV Pravda floating lazily in the oily wake of

the Party-Loyal Bushevik Sub-Media again.

Truly, we have a media fit for Soviets. But mod, hip, FUN Soviets!

[lyonn]

7. This simple mind

has a simple solution: vote for Dean. Has he not been trying to remind America that Bush & Co. has done more harm to this country from international issues to economics? Kerry is "fine", like we democrats need another "fine" politician running for Pres. Deans statement to his campaign workers and supporters was sincere, not radical!! Gawd the press does a job on a candidate while trying to raise ratings. I hate that. Kennedy, the day before, speaking to Kerry supporters was more vocal than Dean, no comment from the media? Kerry is ok, but is a "me to" person, like, don't stir the waters. Either you want a big change from the present administration and vote Dean, the only one that honestly has spoken out specifically against Bush, or you can choose the milk toast candidates, not that they don't have good issues too, but barely.

[truth2power]

10. "Vote for Dean". You are exactly right.

I don't know how Democrats can fall for this drek.

El Chimpo smirks that vomitous little smirk, is snotty and condescending to everyone, says things like his often quoted comment that "that's the thing about being president, I don't have to explain why I do things." (This is from memory, but you all know the quote I'm talking about), and no one of the whore press opens their yap.

Last night I saw a clip on Frontline of Diane Sawyer asking the Bush-creature (you know the interview) about not finding WMD and he said "What difference does it make?" Contemptible little snot. Diane was rendered speechless and looked like she'd been slapped in the face.

But she sure did drill Dean and his wife later on 20/20. And over an action that is inconsequential as far as I'm concerned.

If Diane were volunteering her time she would still not be worth the space she takes up on that set. It's time for her to go.

The press is driving this witch hunt, which should be telling us something about how they're crapping their pants over the possibility that Dean could be the nominee.

CALL THEIR BLUFF!

edit: spelling. the spell check doesn't work for me - get runtime error.