The "problem" with Dean

[SlipperySlope]

Dean is doing a great job, and he is saying much of what needs to be said. But there is still a problem here, and we are letting ourselves be played into Republican hands.

The "problem" is that, as I look at the current Yahoo headlines, there isn't one thing there about Bush. But, don't you know, there is a headline about how Dean is "over the top".

The "problem" is one of framing the issues. If the goal is the impeachment of President Bush, then we should be hammering that over and over. However well intended Dean's comments were, they took us on a tangent, and the Republicans will make a tempest in a teapot to keep us on that tangent, defensive, for as long as they can.

[Arugula Latte]

1. If it wasn't Dean, it would be something else.

The media will run with anything that distracts from the crappiest performance by a presidential U.S. administration in modern history.

They will take any opportunity to skewer Democrats and build up President Dickhead.

[bryant69]

5. Largely true

They love their little scripts, and one of the easiest is "Those crazy democrats!"

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[FreedomAngel82]

20. Exactly

That's all the story with Dean is. I mean, really. Who gives a shit? What he said was true. And CNN had a poll asking if the GOP is mostly white Christians. Guess what. 89% of the people who polled AGREED with Dean. They've always painted Dean as a "crazy angry liberal" when none of those are true. Dean isn't crazy, isn't angry (well I don't know about that but you know what I mean) and he's pretty moderate.

[CottonBear]

2. There's no problem with Dean. The problem is the media (or lack thereof.)

Our goal is not necessarily the impeachment of *. (Remember that Spiro Agnew had already resigned and been replaced by Gerald Ford prior to Nixon's resignation.) After all, we don't want President Cheney and VP Rice or President Hastert and VP Frist.

Our goal is to take back congress in 2006 and to win the presidency in 2008.

[SlipperySlope]

21. You are right, of course.

I was tempted to be more sarcastic about the media in my post.

Since we know how the media works, at least we can try to not play into their hands. Keep the message on target. Bush is the problem, Bush is the problem, Bush is the problem.

[goclark]

3. The problem is not with Dean

The problem is with the NeoCons.

He is calling them on there issues and we should not be afraid for him to do that-what do we have to loose- the next election?

By 2006, if we keep kissing the butt of the Republicans we are not going to WIN anyway.

[mike_c]

4. promoting impeachment is not Dean's job....

Raising money, promoting the Democratic Party, defining the differences between dems and repugs, facilitating the candidacies of dems seeking office, building a party platform-- those are all jobs of the DNC chairman. Impeaching war criminals in the WH is Congress's job.

[mandyky]

8. Also, speaking aginst the war isn't Dean's job

The Congress told Dean NOT to talk policy. The Iraq war is a policy.
Now , Dean can make observations about how much the war is costing and how that undermines balancing the budget and providing help to the neediest of Americans. Cuts in Healthcare and Education for example.

[demokatgurrl]

11. " The Congress told Dean NOT to talk policy"- since when

does Congress tell the DNC chair what to say?

[mandyky]

15. While he was running for Chair

It happened, Pelosi and Reid even made comments at a press conference.
They were trying to get Roemer in, remember?

[mike_c]

16. seriously-- Congress has ZERO authority to muzzle the DNC chair....

eom

[Kahuna]

6. Dean should be attacking Bush and the congressional pubs...

NOT the rank and file Republican voters. That's just wrong.

[Larkspur]

18. Dean did NOT attack Republican voters

You are regurgitating RW talking points.

George Lakoff said that Dean's comments were taken out of context and anyone who attended Dean's speeches or read the transcript knew that Dean was referring to Republican leaders, not voters.

[Vickers]

7. So, a fucked up "librul media" is somehow Dean's problem?

:shrug:

[ngant17]

9. Dean has ample reserves of honesty, a dwindling resource in Washington

I'm glad to know that Howard Dean has not shirked his duty to speak the truth, no matter how displeasing it might be to 'the powers that be'.

I was disappointed that Dean did not take the opportunity to run for President in 2008, that's my own criticism that I had.

Now that he's proven he's able to make political waves from the DHC beach-head, directly against the Republican empire of course, let's don't do anything to hinder him and hopefully the waves will keep getting bigger and crash on top of the Republican White House soon.

If anything, we better try to make sure they don't steal the votes again. A defacto oligarchy will take root if we can't keep them from rigging the elections.

[demokatgurrl]

10. No, the "problem" with Dean is that no matter what he does

or says, the MSM will go after him and try to make him look bad. I want him to ignore them and keep speaking the truth.

[KittyWampus]

12. Actually, This Recent Nonsense Has Made My Father A Big Dean Fan

:)

[WLKjr]

14. and let me guess....:-)

it's becuase he says what he thinks, and isn't afraid to do so?


that's what I hear a lot of people saying they want more of.

[KittyWampus]

19. BINGO!

[WLKjr]

24. It's the same thing my uncle keeps telling me

Dems have got to grow a set before he will start actively supporting them again.

[iconoclastNYC]

22. Exactly.

You know what I think?

I think the DNC has been doing overnight polling after every one of his recent "gaffes" and THEY LIKE WHAT THEY ARE READING.

This is the dawn of a new era in Democratic politics. We are not going to be battered anymore. We're going to FIGHT. The American people look down on weaklings and respect and follow fighters.

[seabeyond]

13. KNOW: whenever the dems speak out, they are attacked

we say we want dems to speak out. i have been saying when they do, this happens. it doesnt matter what anyone says. kerry said mary was lesbian. it doesnt matter what is talked about, boxer condi lied.

they are attacked. if you want democrats to speak out, expect this. the democrats cannot change their wording in anyway, for it to not become about them. dean says, new should not become about me. i get that. ya you do, not going to matter. if dean, boxer, kerry hillary frank conyers, and democrat speaks out, it will, WILL become about them. it is what repugs do. period. that is it.

so, this
or
we do thru internet, emails and not go onto the channels, and not draw attention to self.

you decide

[guardian]

17. Dean needs to keep it up.

Dean is just telling the truth about * and the repugs. I think he should n't change a thing. Keep it up. Then, once all the corporate right-wing media stops focusing on Dean being "over the top" they will start focusing on the truth of his statements. Maybe then they'll actually start digging into all the corruption of the * administation. If we could just get the Democratic leadership in Congress to put on some man pants for a change, maybe they'll start impeachment proceedings.

Frankly, I'm frustrated that there isn't more comments like what Dean has been saying coming from others in leadership positions.

[bvar22]

23. The "PROBLEM"

is NOT with Dean.
The "PROBLEM" is with the Media, and with those who repeat the right wing talking points!

If the Media is going to focus on Dean, then they will report what he is saying. That is one step better than ANY Democrat has been able to do in 15 years.
For the first time in a loooong time, the Pukes are having to DEFEND themselves!!! I LIKE that!
ATTACK!! and when the whine..ATTACK some more.
Go DEAN!!!


OUR job is to support Dean!

*Donations to DNC in Dean's name

*Letters to Editors in local papers

*Call Ins

*Letters to Democrats who publicly criticize Dean

*Bumper stickers: "DEAN SPEAKS FOR ME!"

*Confronting supposed Democrats who spew right wing talking points about Dean being a problem or hurting the Party!