So Dean on the Daily Show kinda frustrated me

[ComerPerro]

He kept repeating the talking points, and I feel he missed a really good opportunity.

There was one part where Jon asked him about Democratic strategy for topics such as Iraq, but Dean just again mentioned "cutting the deficit and providing health care" as well as "properly arming the troops".

Its good, I agree that it would be a good step. But I wish he would have been more specific.

I saw a glimmer of hope when he said "One thing we are gonna start doing is calling the Republicans on their BS"

That point made me cheer.

But I wish he would have expanded on it, taken in into the Iraq issue.

A possible exchange I would have liked to see:

JON: What is the Democratic plan for Iraq? If you were in power tomorrow, what would you do different?

DEAN: Well, I'd like to know what the Republican plan is for Iraq. Have you heard anything yet? The President invades after scaring the nation to death with threats of weapons that weren't even there, and now all we hear from him is rhetoric about "staying the course". But what is his plan? How long does he intend to keep our troops over there?




You know, I was just wanting to see something like that. Sorta like expanding on the "We are going to call them on their BS" remark.

I really think Democrats need to start attacking on that.

We get attacked every day for not having a plan in Iraq. But no one ever seems to point out that the party in power, the party who started this war, doesn't even have a plan.

[nickinSTL]

1. hmm, kinda lame...

"STEWART: What is the Democratic plan for Iraq? If you were in power tomorrow, what would you do different?

DEAN: Well, I'd like to know what the Republican plan is for Iraq."

Uh...great. But, we need to say what OUR plan is.

If we don't have one, CREATE ONE.

[ComerPerro]

16. What good would it do?

They'd just reject it.

Besides, I really do think the bigger point is that the party who started the war has no plan at all.

Nothing

[AllegroRondo]

31. Exactly

The Repubs would spend their time picking apart the Dem ideas, and distract everyone from the fact that they have no plans, and what few they have are not working.

[ComerPerro]

33. Well, and even if they didn't do that, its not like we can get them passed

Republicans just vote them down, then later hijack them and pass a bastardized version.

[liberalnurse]

2. So, do you have anything positive

to share or suggest in a PROACTIVE fashion? Did you know, the freepers post these comments on their web site...it includes screen names. This just feeds the trolls.

This is what I am refering:

" More DUmmies Start to Turn on Dr. Dean"


http://tinyurl.com/8ag7b

[King Coal]

6. Liberalnurse, I don't slow down for Freepers. They're insignificant.

[liberalnurse]

11. No one is suggesting you "slow down".....

just be responsible. I want my Party to succeed and will be careful how I address an issue of the day from our Democratic Leaders. Feedback is the focus...not mud slinging, knee-jerk slams. This is non productive and sabotages our goals by giving fodder to the trolls.

[King Coal]

28. I don't slow down for trolls either.

You give the freepers way too much credit. Since I first came to DU you have been worrying non-stop about the freepers. They are a tiny miniority, unworthy of slowing you down, Nice Nurse.

[liberalnurse]

36. Please King Coal.

Get your facts straight...False claims directed at me are becoming your standard.

quote:

"Since I first came to DU you have been worrying non-stop about the freepers"

After 6000 Plus posts.....my record is not supportive of your rhetoric.

If you just want to attack me, do it in a PM or just come right out and say it....you hate the Nurse. Passive aggressive behavior is public nuisance.

[King Coal]

37. No, I love the nurse.

I think you're great. But, in my opinion you give the freepers way too much credit. Honestly, I'm not attacking you. I really believe that you worry too much about the freepers, and I really believe that they're insignificant. Let's be friends.

[liberalnurse]

39. I always wanted

to be friends......:pals:

[funkybutt]

3. Cindy Sheehan spoke to us last weekend

At an anti-war protest here in New Orleans. She expressed her disappointment with Dean. Her comments were very similar to yours. She said that she saw him speak and he didn't even mention Iraq until the very end, at which point he only said, "We need to make sure our troops have the proper equipment"

I don't think the Democratic party can let them off that easily. yeah they need better equipment and armor but that's NOT the real issue.

They shouldnt even be over there anyway.

[ComerPerro]

29. Right, exactly

I mean, yes, they should have proper equipment. I am thrilled that Dean reminds people of that, becuase it shouldn't even need to be brought up. But the fact remains that the administration hasn't even armed the troops properly, and its just disgusting.

So, in a way, saying that we will arm the troops properly shows that we at least have some sort of plan.

I just wish reporters would challenge Bush the same way they challenge Dems.

No one ever asks Bush "...and how are you going to do that" or "how are you going to pay for it".

I wish Dean or any Democrat would bring that up.

[Larkspur]

4. Dean is not allowed to form policy, according to Reid and Pelosi

That question is more suited for Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.

Dean can't arbitrarily make a Dem policy on Iraq. It's very possible that Dean not directly respondiing to Jon's question on Iraq is due to the Hill Dems having no Iraq policy because they are divided between the chickenhawk DLC Dems and progressive Dems. As DNC Chair, Dean would not say on public TV that the Dems have no Iraq policy or are divided on the issue, so his answer or evasion of answering that question was the right move for him.

If the state DNC committees pass resolutions, like they have in California, and request the national DNC to pass a resolution on Iraq, then Dean could respond to that, but those resolutions would not be binding Dem policy that the Hill Dems would use.

[cyberpj]

8. Good Point. nt.

[ComerPerro]

20. I know, and as I said, I don't think we even need to

My point was, I just wish Dean would have expanded on the "Call them on their Bullshit" line, because he really hit the nail on the head with that.

They have been spouting lies and BS, and have been offering half-assed proposals that have been treated like real ideas by the media.

Best examples? Iraq and Social Security.

Has anyone noticed that Bush never really actually proposed a plan for Social Security? Just a bunch of speculative discussion about private accounts.

[Debi]

34. Ding, Ding, Ding...we have a winner

Dems who are not friends to Dean have basically nutered him and publicly stated that he doesn't speak for them and doesn't speak their policy language.

All he is allowed to be is a fundraiser and a cheerleader.

So, when he is asked policy questions he has to either duck and deflect or pointedly state,"You'll have to ask the policy makers, I'm not allowed to answer that".

:eyes:

[dogday]

5. Dean does this party proud, but these comments don't

I think there is enough Democrat Bashing going on that we don't need it in our party.

[cyberpj]

9. This is a forum. For opinon and discussion. To suggest changes

is not the same as bashing.

I'm tired of having to love it or leave it alone.

Isn't that how Bush operates?

[dogday]

10. When they deserve it, do you really think Dean deserves this?

[cyberpj]

13. Here's what I posted today -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3936628

[dogday]

18. The Articles I read have Dean doing a good job of Fund Raising

http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/0105/DeanShootingFromLip.shtml


http://kutv.com/topstories/topstories_story_162230951.html

[ComerPerro]

24. Thank you for the support

I thought I made it pretty clear that I wasn't bashing Dean.

[dogday]

30. Sorry you feel that way...

I am all for anyone stating their thoughts. I guess right now after what Rove said, I feel like sticking by the Democrats and not criticizing anyone. You are entitled to your thoughts and feelings.

[ComerPerro]

32. Ehh, I can see why people get defensive. I was that way about Durbin

He's my Senator (sorta).

Gotta back him.

[dogday]

35. I backed Durbin All The Way

I called and spoke with a gal on his staff and told them about Santorium's comments comparing Democrats to Nazis....

[Misunderestimator]

12. I agree.

[jpgray]

23. I don't agree

We need to do the best possible job with every media appearance we have. If we don't, I think it's more than natural to ask why, and try to do better. This I feel was a wasted opportunity--Stewart asked some pointed questions we had zero answers for.

[ComerPerro]

27. And, I figure, yeah, its just the Daily Show, which is openly liberal

But I felt that it was really a golden opportunity for Dean to knock one out of the park.

Because its so liberal, he doesn't really have anything to sell the audience on, they are already sympathetic to his causes.

But it would have been a great chance to further cement their support, to show that he will continue to fight.

He did that, yes.

This is just one lament I had on an otherwise good performance.

[DS1]

7. It's a comedy show, with very short segments

Dean did great considering these simple factors.

There are town meetings for the level of detail you're looking for. Besides, if Dean HAD gone into specifics the other half of DU would be screaming about how he bored the audience.

[ComerPerro]

14. Yeah, I know. And I liked his appearance

But its just that Jon gave him plenty of windows and time.

Oh well.

[jpgray]

22. That's a copout--Moyers did far better in terms of the format than Dean

It is perfectly possible to come off great in a Stewart interview. Dean didn't--this isn't a huge deal, but I'm surprised at the resistance to it. Kerry did a similarly mediocre job when he was on--too nervous, too anxious. Also the audience was too eager to love both of them, and the pressure was piled on.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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

[NYCGirl]

17. Only when the right wing twists it around and takes it out of context.

If you think he's inarticulate, you haven't heard him much.

[dogday]

19. No he does not have to explain, The Republicans always

make a big deal about what he says.

[ComerPerro]

21. He's very articulate. He just doesn't tapdance around things

He doesn't strive to be overly diplomatic, like Kerry did.

Sorta like a cross between an articulate statesman and the supposed "plainspoken, striaght shooter" that Bush is portrayed as.

[Individualist]

25. Which Dean are you referring to?

Anyone who has listened to Howard Dean knows he's quite articulate, just the opposite of the incoherent idiot in the White House.

[Debi]

38. ?

:eyes:

[seabeyond]

26. jon is different interviewer than all dean comes in contact too

i saw dean not be so protect, more relaxed at end of interview. if he had one more segment, he would have been right with jon. was a moment for dean to get used to jon

interesting

[maxsolomon]

40. Stewart's question is unfair

It is NOT the job of the Democrats to solve the iraqi war. Its the job of the narcissist in chief. If Dean thinks we should throw in the towel, given the knives-out toady media, it would be very unwise to say so. He should have told Stewart so.

2 things he said that were right on:
1. Call them on their BS
2. The Democratic philosophy is "Do unto others...".

If you ignore the 4 Gospels in favor of every other part of the Bible (Leviticus, Romans, Revelation), you are not a Christian. That is the core of Christian belief, and it is a Universal Truth, one that even Muslims will respect. USE IT.

[Al-CIAda]

41. No mention of RIGGED machines, DSM, or the criminal treasonous

other acts of this junta.

[Itsthetruth]

42. Dean Still Supports The Occupation Of Iraq

That's why he ducked and dodged Jon's questions about Iraq.

It isn't that Dean doesn't have an opinion. He does. He's just reluctant to express it in public in view of the majority opposition to the occupation of Iraq.

[Beaverhausen]

43. He only supports fixing the mess we started in the first place

There is no getting around the fact that our country is the one who fucked up Iraq.

Dean has said for YEARS that we have to go to other countries and create a REAL coalition so the whole world will help stabilize it.

And that's what he said last night on the Daily Show. I guess everyone missed that part.

[Itsthetruth]

44. Iraqi's Want Us Out .... That's The Bottom Line

Iraq is not "our nation" to fix. It's up to the Iraqi people to determine their political and economic future .... not yours, not Howard Dean and not George Bush.

It's a political principal. Self-determination and independence.

Most Iraqi's want the United States to withdraw from Iraq and you're opposed to their wishes? Most Americans now want the Bush government to withdraw our troops from Iraq and you're siding with the "we can't cut and and run" minority?