Hows the Iraq Issue Going to Play for Dean in the General Election?

[crissy71]

This is the question that has me conflicted about his candidacy - although I was strongly against the war and protested with everyone else, I'm a pragmatist and want to feel confident that we can beat Shrub in 2004.

Does anyone know how strongly the "support Iraq war" (60% right?) people feel - is the support for the war tepid or is it deep? (i.e. the percentage of people who are against the war and "feel strongly" about it is very high - what are the corresponding pro-war numbers?)

I know the number of people who support the war has been shrinking (though not as quickly as Dubya's reelect numbers) - of course by Nov 2004 a lot can change either way.

Basically since Dean has surged I'm feeling like the Dems are a little out on a limb in 2004 - please reassure me (and please, PLEASE don't say we should "lose with dignity"!!)

[wuushew]

1. 432 days left until election 2004

if the average of 1 solider a day keeps up total killed will be 278 + 432 = 710 dead


The question you should be asking is how many dead will Amerika tolerate? What is the "magic-number" that will drop shrub below election possibility?

[meegbear]

8. Exactly ...

ALL the candidates are affected by this. Singling out dean on this issue is pretty shallow.

[jagguy]

2. its a negative issue for 2004

it can only hurt any dem candidate to make it an issue.

Same thing goes for all negative campaigning in general. It never works at the national level. If it did George the 1st would have been a two termer or failing that Dole would have dropped Clinton in round II. The only exception was Nixon's refusal to wear make up and his opposition never uttered a word about it.

[ComerPerro]

3. From what I understand

Dean doesn't necessicarily want to just pull all the troops out. He wants to try to communicate with countries that used to be our Allies before Bush was a complete dick to them. I feel that once we have a more intelligent and level-headed President then the UN may give us a second look and help us clean up Smirk's mess.
If Dean can properly communicate this position to the masses, he should be fine on the Iraq issue.

[jos]

4. Circumstances will dictate

If the coffins keep coming, Dean could say that the war was a failure and a monumental misjudgment.

If things calm down, Dean could say that the war was unnecessary and built on lies.

In either event, his plan should be to say that he would withdraw U.S. troops in favor of an international force, under UN or NATO command.

[CWebster]

5. Not quite the victory they imagined it would be

and a hard dose of reality it has become with no end in sight. With the economy struggling and the bills piling up into the billions and the boys dying every day and the case built on trumped up evidence, with no international support and continuous misery for the Iraqi people....well it just isn't the kind of thing to rally the folks back home when they weren't particularly enthusiastic to begin with.

[realFedUp]

6. There was support for taking out Saddam

with UN support and with promises of a shorter stay
and international help, like in Kosovo which didn't
end up happening.
Many of the people I know didn't want to invade at all
and didn't see any arguments made by the Bushies holding
water.

[StandWatie]

7. it's gone to hell

I don't think anyone was really that into it anyway, they thought it was going to be a cakewalk and there is this irrational fear since Vietnam that questioning the government about war can lead to defeat so indicating "support" is something like crossing your fingers when you tell a lie or not walking under a ladder.

I think Iraq is going to be an albatross around W's neck.

[KaraokeKarlton]

9. Even conservatives on the news shows are repeating what Dean has said

That we need more troops over there and need to bring in the international community. Ironically, the rest of the world is just waiting for Bush to ask for their help to send it. But of course, the dumbass has to "challenge" them rather than just freaking ask. That chip on his shoulder is putting our troops at risk.