I'm watching Dean again on TDS, and I think he did really great.

[Guaranteed]

Jon's asking him about facts and proposals, but Dean's right. It's not about facts and plans and proposals. It's about a message.

Yes, it's good to have plans, although of course they're all just alternative plans as it is now politically for Democrats. But we need to get our self-respect back. We need to let the American people know that we stand for something, and that we know what we believe in. We have to show them our philosophy and character. Kerry proposed plans, and it didn't get him anywhere.

Plans: great. Message: indispensable.

[deanin2008]

1. dean-kerry

I totally and absolutely agree!
there is no way dean would let himself get bullied around by shrub. we need a candidate who isnt so nice. we need one who can fight back when the repug smear machine gets going. I love kerry, but there is no way people are smart enough to listen to his message. You gotta have a guy who can fight bush's game better than bush can. dean in 2008!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

2. Can he run in 2008 since he took on this position?

I thought he agreed that wouldn't.

[LightningFlash]

3. He doesn't need to be president.

He's the best DNC chairman the party will ever have. Have him keep his job.

[Cha]

4. I thought it was the best 1/2 hour

of humor and Grreat Democratic Message that I could ever have asked for at this point in history. :D

[fujiyama]

5. I thought he did well too

I don't know what else people expected. All in all, that was one of the best DS episodes in a while (especially that porn star bit with Mary Cary - one of the funniest things I've seen in a while).

[Plaid Adder]

6. He did pretty well, but

I think it was a mistake to dodge the "what specifically are you going to do" question, especially as regards Iraq. Because I think it would really help if we had an answer to that question.

The thing is, the only really sensible answer at this point is "cut our losses and get the hell out as fast as possible," which Dean et al probably figure is political suicide to articulate at this moment. I dunno. I'd like to see someone float that trial balloon and see what happened, but I guess it probably shouldn't be Dean.

Alternatively, he could have said, "Look, as of this moment I don't have an exit strategy for you because we have been kept so far out of the loop there's no way we could formulate one. But at least if we get in, we will be actively looking to find one, as opposed to 'staying the course' on the same bullshit strategy that has been failing since the day after the fall of Baghdad."

But, that's just me.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[Guaranteed]

7. We're not in that position right now.

Making plans is pretty pointless. We need some kind of power, first.

But the way you put it in that last paragraph is pretty good.