The Temptation of Howard Dean by Joe Klein, Time magazine, 9/05

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,483270,00.html

Dean turns out to be a flagrantly political anti-politician. As his campaign gains altitude, he seems to change a position a week. In the debate, he changed two—first on American troops in Iraq, then on American labor standards on trade. Before that, he trimmed his honorable position on raising the age of eligibility for Social Security and his support for lifting the embargo on Cuba. Dean still proudly struts his pro-gun stance in the anti-gun Democratic Party, but as often as not he points out the political efficacy of that position in the red states. The question is: How many of Dean's positions are negotiable? As victory becomes a possibility, how much integrity will he compromise to win? Another question: How long before Dean's tough talk—the apparent candor that propelled his charge—begins to seem arrogant, uninformed, unpresidential? "I think Dean confuses being smart with knowing a lot," says a prominent Democrat who wants Dean to succeed. "I'm not sure he knows a lot."

For now, the Democratic campaign is all about Dean—and the Dean campaign is all about the populist temptation. This is the moment when the high and low roads diverge, and last week Howard Dean looked like a man trying to take both.

[bemildred]

1. So what, he just noticed that politicians pander?

What a twit.

[RandomKoolzip]

2. Sorry Joe, apparently you never realized that humans are mutable.

Um, this nor any muck supposedly raked by anti-Deaners has swayed me from my support of him. This is a typical attack of the right: disparage a candidate by calling him "political," a "Politician." As if Repub candidates aren't political! Bush pandered like a used car salesman, as did Reagan, and Bush Sr. (remember "read my lips"?). Politicians all, the difference is that Dean's heart is in the right place and he is connected in a genuine way with his constituency, unlike the ivory towered, secret locationed republicans. So if he tries to reflect the changable needs of his party via contacts thru his website, his meetups, etc. suddenly he's a "politician?" Joe, it's time to right for Natioanl Review with logic like that.

[w4rma]

3. More of these "changing positions" smears.

His position on trade has not changed. His position on troops have not changed. His position on Cuba has changed, because the circumstances changed. His position on Social Security hasn't changed in 8 years.

[Khephra]

4. On those issues where he has moved a bit

He's even explained the reason in a way that makes perfect sense--one's perspectives have to broaden a bit more when you're not just looking out for the people in your state as a Gov, but as a potential President of all the people.

[Gin]

5. Most politicians skirt issues and never say anything controversial

He is learning how to play the game. Also..he is covering the country and finding out what others think..and adjusting his opinions..I personally like that..but can see where its a target.

[PATRICK]

6. The Decline of Klein

The "populist" temptation? Are they afraid to say the "mob" and demagoguery? Trying to polite and insulting the American people? Iwas reading Thomas Carlisle(no relation to the insidious corpse machine)speaking about those RARE moments when an entire populace became aroused to change the course of destiny. The French Revolution. And all the colorful horrors that followed of course. Far from respecting, admiring or criticizing all I sense is naked fear that we might actually get a genuine democracy in theis prosperous educated powerhouse.

Only fear can make such outrageous comments like "not knowing a lot" into a real critique when they have been giving a complete pass to the biggest fraudulent, arrogant criminal ignoramus in American history.

If the aforementioned Democrat is so prominent next time let that grotesque cariacature of a party politician use his name so we may rectify his ranking somewhere close to the Lieberman downflush.

Klein would insult us all to get at the enemy of his puppet god.

[scipan]

7. Klein is not pro-chimpy

I watched the Tweety show yesterday morning and I about fell off my chair when Klein said of Bush*, (almost word for word) "He's also arrogant, flippant and ill-informed".

I'm not kidding. I don't get cable so I miss a lot of the pundit shows, but I have never heard any of them say something like this before. Klein may be for one of the other dem candidates or just selling words, but he is definitely not a tool of the right.