Howard Dean - a man with courage and conviction. If it wasn't

[caledesi]

for Howard Dean speaking out against from the beginning about the illegal war in Iraq.

Read this article. Thank you Howard Dean for getting the Dems to take off their pink tutus!

Like a lot of people, I was grateful when Howard Dean started sounding off about the war in Iraq. It was easy to hear him because almost every other politician had been bullied by the administration into silence.

He said the magic words, and yet lightning did not strike him down. People did not shun him as a traitor. No one knew who the hell Howard Dean was -- I'm still not sure, to be candid -- but they were really happy that someone was breaking the silence.

Imagine: an elected Democrat who said out loud that Sept. 11, 2001, did not justify all excesses, did not explain all malign or stupid decisions. An elected Democrat who gave other elected Democrats permission to find their courage. Even better: an elected Democrat who demonstrated that Bush-bashing might be a noble and necessary occupation.

Continued:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/06/DDG744IC961.DTL

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Liberal Dragon]

2. I have to agree...

Although I wouldn't use swear words, I will have to agree with Upfront. Kerry's boost came from Ted Kennedy, Mortgaging his house, and from stealing Howard Deans lines. Howard Deans dip in the polls came from Al Gore, I have a scream, and blowing his money. Dean is the only one that can add people to the party, Kerry is an old fuddy duddy, and doesn't have the grandfather like style of Reagan to sway Independant and Republican votes. Kerry was rising in the polls, but todays polling numbers are quite disturbing... 47% would vote for Bush, and only 43% would vote Kerry. Close...but Kerry was much higher before.

[Upfront]

5. I Do Apologize

for the bad language but my frustration just boiled over. I mean what I say about Kerry, he is a sure lose.

[tabasco]

6. If the freeps are afraid of Kerry ...

He's alright by me. We got Purple Hearts and Silver Stars. All the pukes have is a bunch of pantywaist chickenhawks. Thanks for your enlightening perspective, LD !

[Southsideirish]

3. Noam Chomsky says he can see a scenario where Bin Laden

gets "captured" right before the Democrats convention and then after taking all the bows, the repubs start running photos of bin laden in chains, 911 burning in the background alongside photos of Kerry sitting in front of the Viet Cong flag or with Jane Fonda - "Which would you want to protect your family and country???"
I can see it all now - why can't these sheeple who are marching in to vote for Kerry?

[SheilaT]

4. It's important for all of us to recognize

that the coming campaign is going to be very, very dirty. The Republicans will say and do anything at all to stay in power. All of the candidates have negatives.

But Howard Dean will stand up and fight back, as he's done all along so far in his quest for the nomination. I don't see Kerry doing that. His lack of true leadership in the Senate, his reliance on corporate donations, his membership in Skull and Crossbones, will all haunt him, and he'll be as ineffectual as we'd expect from a man who (as I understand it) has sponsored a grand total of 11 bills in his twenty years in the Senate, none of which passed. Think about it. He sponsors something once every other year on average, and none of them ever pass? THIS is an effective leader, a man who should run this country?

I know this much. Even though they will attempt to steal the election again, Howard Dean won't hold still for it.

[wabeewoman]

7. The thing I don't understand about this all

is why Kerry supporters think he is going to stand up to bush or anyone when he hasn't for the past 3 years. Before Dean came along I was a Kerry supporter but I got so mad at him because he didn't SAY anything about the war, the patriot act, bush. He not only didn't say anything but he went along. There were people at the caucus today who were republican for Dean, there were people who came only for Dean and some of those won't vote for Kerry. And there were those who believed in Dean but voted Kerry because he is 'electable'. My repug brother was leaning Dean but never Kerry. Why don't people look at the positions of Dean and Kerry (they are different) and vote for who they want-not who is electable. I fear the joke is going to be on them when Kerry (Mr. Electable) is defeated by Bush.

[dArKeR]

8. A man of honor. But it's more important to take our country back. The Dem.

nominee would be a complete idiot if he/she didn't announce that Dean would be appointed a Cabinet post. This would keep the entire party energized and working together. We sure don't want the moral Dean supporters to feel left out. They are more important than the Kerry, Edwards, Clark... supporters. I don't think that can be refuted.

What is happening to Dean, although it's unjust, dirty and shameful, is what I call 'acceptable politics'.

I donated to Dean 1 year ago because he was the only one who stood up and looked Satan in the eyes. But you've got manage your team to win, just like a sports team moves aside players.

If Dean isn't given a position, I surely might NOT volunteer for the Dems. But if they do bring Dean in as a major player than ALL of Dean's supporters will be very happy and join in with a positive attitude.

[aquart]

9. Edwards isn't exactly lighting a fire.

And I think, in the end, he'll cave and endorse Kerry, as a debt to be repaid in the future.

So maybe you bolted too soon.

And expecting Dean to be allowed to play in Kerry's rose garden is too starry-eyed to be believed.

Your pragmatism elect Kerry in a year any Democrat can win. A snake on a rock can win against Bush this year.

Capturing Osama three years too late is not going to change the outcome. But it might provoke another terrorist attack proving that Bush has not made us safe.

I think we have to consider a major terror attack might come AFTER the election. If they lose, don't expect the little dears to give up.

[napi21]

10. I listened to the Chompsky speech too!

Southsideirish, you are absolutely right! When I heard Noam say that, I actually started to shiver. I can see that happening!!!!

We all need to figure out how we can confront something like that NOW! I assume some folks from the Dem stratogists read this list and are working out a plan.

I'm sure no consultant, but together, we should be able to think of some good ideas!

We need to start NOW!!!