Dean...the next hurdle!

[unfrigginreal]

Now that the good Doctor has survived and even gained support while the press was bashing him as too liberal, unelectable and too angry...a new front will be erected by the press to try to drag him down...inconsistent.

Expect numerous articles and tv segments on statements by the Gov. that they claim are inconsistant.

It won't have much effect on his ardent supporters, but may serve the purpose to dissuade others to support him. One thing to keep in mind, Dr. Dean is going to say what's on his mind, and at times that will give his opponents a chance to make a nuanced argument against him...very similar to the latest barbs from Lieberman over trade and Middle East policies.

[RichV]

1. But aren't they?

I'm undecided and Dean's in my top three, but don't those who are saying he's been inconsistent on a few issues have a point? Please don't take this as a flame. Just seems that way from what I've seen/read. Feel free to correct me. I'm sure a ton of ppl will feel compelled to do so.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. Dean says it's proof he's "evolving" and listens to people

frankly it scares me.

[w13rd0]

4. Why?

I myself am done with idealogues...a responsive, connected candidate who doesn't rule by the whim of the polls, but can listen to constituents and take concerns and fresh data into account...OMG, that's positively...SCARY...right?

I'll take that over an idealogue on the right, OR THE LEFT, any day...

[sfecap]

5. Listening to people.

Yep, that is a scary thing.

Good thing that our politicians didn't listen to the millions who opposed the attack on Iraq.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

12. no. the evolving part

It's in fact Dean spinning his own inexperience.

[TLM]

17. What inexperience...

the man has been a leader in government for a decade... long enough to put plans into effect and to see the results. The guy is a mountain on domestic issues and a damn sight better than anybody in the current administration on foreign affairs.

I like the fact he is not a Washington insider or some life long senator looking for the promotion he thinks he’s entitled to because he’s played the game for so long.

[CWebster]

7. Not me

His position on Israel has improved and that is evidence that he is evolving in a solid, intelligent direction.

[CWebster]

3. Depends on who is saying it, when

He is either too liberal or too conservative, too angry or too low-keyed, too much of a hawk on Israel or too even-handed.

[TLM]

16. Dean speaks his mind...

his statements are not from a script, so they are not a carbon copies of each other.

But just like Al Gore, they are going to try and spin every odd syllable as a huge lie... that's what they do. As he continues to gain support and raise money at a rate rivaling Bush, they’re going to really start up on Dean… the difference is Dean will fight back.

But seriously what have you seen Dean say that has been inconsistent?

[unfrigginreal]

19. Here's a question for you...

Clinton was hell bent and determined to allow gays to openly serve in the military...after getting battered and smeared by the mainstream media, he changed his policy to don't ask don't tell, do you think that he was unworthy of the Presidency?

[library_max]

20. He couldn't get what he wanted

Key Democrats in Congress told him they would join Republicans in making a veto-proof law banning gays from military service if he stuck to his executive order. So Clinton had to settle for what he could get. There is a lesson in this for those who can understand politics.

[library_max]

6. This is a cheap shot from 'way back

used to torpedo any candidate when you don't have a better argument against him. No thinking person is perfectly "consistent" about every issue, especially through a lengthy political career. People think again. They hear and learn things that change their minds. Times change, political realities change. Only mindless zealots never change their minds, and even that applies only to the single issues they obsess on.

It's worth looking at a candidate's flip-flops to see if they were principled or opportunistic, or whether they show up an instance in which the candidate was stubbornly ignoring reality in the first place and finally had to accede to it (like Bush finally going hat-in-hand to the U.N.). But the mere existence of "inconsistencies" in a candidate's record isn't indication of anything except the fact that the candidate is neither a machine nor a moron.

[janx]

8. I couldn't agree more. If that's all opponents can do,

then Dean's in very good shape.

[unfrigginreal]

18. Great post!

It's usually pretty clear when looking at the "inconsistancies" whether they were politically motivated or a genuine change or evolution(just to get my Kerry friends on their high horse) in thinking. I'll take the guy that makes sense every time, even if that means that my opinion changes also.

[sangh0]

9. Dean's inconsistent?

Like Kerry?

Or is Dean "evolving"?

Like Kerry?

http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/912159.asp?cp1=1
Dean: Oh, well, I tend to believe the president. I think most Americans tends to believe the president.

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0210/05/cg.00.html
"I believe that we may need to go into Iraq at some point. There's no question that Saddam is a threat..."

"I also understand human beings. I believe that Americans are conservative with a small C. They don't want too much change too fast."

[CWebster]

10. Oh has kerry changed his mind about his vote yet

?

[sangh0]

13. "I believe that we may need to go into Iraq at some point.

There's no question that Saddam is a threat"
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0210/05/cg.00.html

[CWebster]

14. So?

What does that prove---that Bush made his case?

[Frances]

11. I am also inconsistent

As I get more information, I rethink my position on different topics.

Even with Bush, I could say that I have been inconsistent. I was 100% opposed to him in 2000. I am not 1000% percent opposed to him.

[Gin]

15. Weak arguement against Dean...because * said he was not into nation

building... and now the fucker has sold us down the river to his rich friends.