A Confession: I'm a Dean Supporter but

[clar]

I think out of all the candidates John Kerry would be the best President. He has a good liberal record, particularly when it comes to the environment, an issue near and dear to my heart. He has the respect of many in Washington, and knows how to work with them. And he's been a serious student of foreign policy for far longer than my candidate. I hated his Iraq vote, but that really doesn't factor into my lack of support for him.

So why am I not backing Kerry? Simple. I don't think he can win against George Bush. I know what the polls say, that he's better against Bush than Dean, but I don't buy it. I can't seem to quite identify the problem. Part of it is that I don't think he resonates with the American people. He's like someone out of a Henry James novel. Too gentlemanly, too aristocratic, too rich. Sure Dean comes from much the same background, but he doesn't come across the same way. In addition, Kerry's run a poor campaign, and Dean's run a terrific one.

BTW, I think Dean has the potential to be a very good President.

[wtmusic]

1. The serious student of foreign policy gets an 'F' for his vote

You're in the right place with Dean

[clar]

3. No justification for that vote

but I don't think it contaminates all the good work he's done over the years.

[MercutioATC]

2. I'm a Dean supporter too...and I disagree.

Again, just my opinion, but Kerry represents "business as usual" to me. I know it's been refuted hundreds of times here, but I think that his IWR vote had a lot more to do with political ass-saving than thoughtful conviction. I believe that Dean will be different. THAT'S why it's the first campaign I've ever given money and time to. I think this is true of many, if not most, Dean supporters. We're not voting for the "lesser of 9 evils" or based on electability, we're supporting a candidate that we feel is different.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. Why Did Dean Support Every American Military Adventure Since Viet

Nam with the exception of Gulf War2?

That's alot of adventures....

[MercutioATC]

9. This too has been discussed. He's not "anti-war", he's "anti-unjustified-

war". He's said that sometimes military action is justified. Military action in Iraq, at the time it was begun and in the manner in which it was conducted, was not. He began saying this when over 70% of Americans were in favor of the war, unlike numerous other political figures who safely agreed with (and voted with) the polls.

[DemBones DemBones]

14. Kucinich acknowledges that war is sometimes justified, too,

as does anyone who is not a pacifist.

The question is "Why does Howard Dean think every military action between Viet Nam and Iraq (the Sequel) was justified?" Why does Dean think Iraq I was justified? Grenada? The invasion of Panama to capture Noriega?

I'm not sure Clinton's military adventures were justified, either, though I thought we needed to support Muslims in the former Yugoslavia since we had previously fought against Muslims.

What's Dean's standard for deciding whether a war is justified or not? Does he follow traditional Christian doctrine about "just war" ?

I'm serious in asking these questions, not just throwing stones. If these questions have been answered, I haven't seen the answers, but Dean supporters obviously know more about their candidate than I do, just as I know more about Kucinich than non-supporters do.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. The Dean Supporters Want To Magnify What Is A Small Difference....

NT

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. "I think out of all the candidates John Kerry would be the best President"

say no more.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. "say no more"

please.
I'm begging you.

[Cha]

7. I have no such conflicts....I'm for Dean and I think Dean will be

the Best President and I think Dean will sock it to bush.

:kick: Feels Good! :D

[Larkspur]

8. Presumably safe candidates like Bill McBride, Dem Gov candidate of FL, and

John Kerry of Mass look good on paper, but usually fail when what's on that paper has to come alive on the campaign trail. It's just like in sports, if team statistics predicted who'd be the winner, there would be no need to play the game. One of the purposes of the campaign trail is to demand that candidates earn their support from potential voters. The campaign trail is really a test of leadership and leadership means inspiring or at least convincing people who you have never met and may not meet again to join your campaign. And the key to inspiring people is to listen to what is important to them, evaluate their issues in importance against the national scene, and develop a strategy to address the issues.

Kerry's problem is that he refused to listen to the anger and concerns of the Democratic base and missed a great opportunity to lead us. Like a lot of aristocrats, he assumed that we would follow him, like sheep, but he failed the first test of leadership -- know your sheep.

[Cha]

11. I far as I am concerned...Kerry Caved when it Counted!

I will Not forget writing to him and calling his office and begging him to vote "No"!

[DemBones DemBones]

10. Given Arnold's victory in California, you may be right.

Kerry may be too intelligent and well-prepared for the American electorate to accept. But a lot of Arnold's appeal was his status as a self-made man. Dean and Kerry both come from money and privilege, prep schools and Yale, just like Bush*.

One of the things I like about Dennis Kucinich is that he comes from poverty and has made his own way without family position or wealth to help him. This is a man whose family was frequently evicted from rentals because they were a family that included seven children. As a kid, Dennis had to sometimes live in cars with his family.

Childhood poverty doesn't qualify anyone for office, of course, though I believe it would resonate with many, many Americans. I also agree with Dennis Kucinich's positions on issues. He's the progressive in a race full of centrists. All the Dems have socially progressive views (so does Arnold, for that matter) but there's a lot of fiscal conservatism among them and fiscal conservatism will defeat social progressivism as it takes money to achieve socially progressive ideals. Dennis John Kucinich is progressive across the board.

Those who missed Kucinich on "Washington Journal" yesterday morning missed the chance to see an intelligent, articulate progressive respond to callers' questions with calm, well-reasoned answers.

At least three of the callers were somewhat hostile, one because she thought he said he is the only candidate who opposed the Iraq war when what he said was that he is the only candidate who voted against the Iraq war, one because her son is in Iraq and she doesn't think Congress cares (I had to wonder if she knew anything about Kucinich!) and one who was opposed to everything Kucinich said and ended his diatribe with a "So, got any response?" sort of dare. Dennis never lost his cool, never seemed the least bit perturbed, but gave clear answers to all the callers, these three no less than the others. I was impressed and I'm not easily impressed by politicians as most of them can talk a pretty good line. Dennis Kucinich really seems well-centered in his beliefs.

Give Peace a Chance. Give Kucinich a Chance.

[JohnKleeb]

21. I just found out that his middle name is John not James as I thought

Thats cool lol, btw my middle name is Howard heh, and my dad shares the exact same three intials as DJK, people are gonna remember that :) like the greatest generation does FDR and the baby boomers JFK, RFK, and MLK. Dennis Kucinich, I agree he has a very unique background interestingly enough though although of all the candiates Dennis grew up the poorest he has been in politics for the longest time of all of them, he ran for city council first in 1967 at 21, although Dennis wasnt directly in politics in all of the 80's hes been there. Dennis is a great leader and man, lets give this guy a chance and lets hope for peace and justice.

[KaraokeKarlton]

12. He's not resonating with me because I don't see where he wants the job

I think he feels the title/status is owed to him, and he wants that, but I honestly don't sense that he wants to do the work to earn the job or even do the hard work that it's going to take to fix the mess Bush has made. He just seems to be sitting back acting all shocked and offended that Dean is doing better than he is. That sense of entitlement turns me off so badly, for starters.

I'm sure Kerry would make a fine president at the right time, but I don't believe now is that time. Based on what we're facing at this specific time in history, Howard Dean is the BEST candidate to tackle what needs to be done. This isn't just about who has the best overall resume'. This is about who is best experienced and equipped to deal with a specific set of circumstances. Kerry doesn't fit that bill. Gephardt doesn't fit that bill. Clark doesn't fit that bill. Graham could have fit it, but he just never picked up enough support. Dean is the only one on the list who I personally know is able to tackle the specific set of problems facing our country. I KNOW he can get the job done. I KNOW he won't fiddle fart around once in office. I KNOW I can rely on him to just get it done. I KNOW he is trustworthy to handle things in the best interest of those he represents. Vermont may not be a big state, and it may not have a large minority population, racially speaking. However, based on the size of the population and the amount of funds Dean had to work with, he did a PHENOMENAL job. The key to fiscal responsibility isn't how much money you handle or how many people you lead. They key is what you do with what you've got. Dean stands head and shoulders above the rest with all he's accomplished with so little. These battles may have been fought in a small state, but they were still huge battles. The man knows how to overcome problems when all the odds are stacked against him and still come out on top and in better shape than when he started. And anyone who questions Dean's ability to handle diversity fairly doesn't understand the magnitude of the Civil Unions issue Vermont faced a few years ago. Vermont was ground zero for one of the most intense Civil Rights fights in history. Let's not forget that blacks aren't the only group who have been treated badly in this respect. Dean is a champion for the rights of diverse groups.

So, I agree that Kerry would be a fine president...but not this time around. He's not the best one for THIS election. Howard Dean is.

[Larkspur]

24. This is exactly how I feel about Dean

The key to fiscal responsibility isn't how much money you handle or how many people you lead. The key is what you do with what you've got. Dean stands head and shoulders above the rest with all he's accomplished with so little. These battles may have been fought in a small state, but they were still huge battles. The man knows how to overcome problems when all the odds are stacked against him and still come out on top and in better shape than when he started.

You said it best KaraokeKarlton. It's this alchemical quality of turning adversity into success that is the key to why my support of Dean has grown to fierce loyalty and why I think that Dean is the BEST person to lead the Democratic Party to victory in 2004 against Bush and lead this country out of the mess that Bush has put this nation into.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

26. Dean has ZERO foreign policy experience and has shown it

And that makes Kerry the best man if indeed as you say: "this is about who is best experienced and equipped to deal with a specific set of circumstances."

BTW you tipped your resentment to Kerry with your opening line: "I think he feels the title/status is owed to him"

News Flash: It's not just about being angry.

[KaraokeKarlton]

27. That's actually a misconception

Dean has been to around 60 different countries and even lived abroad for a year. He also is one of the few governors who maintained a close relationship with a foreign government, Canada. On top of that, and of a more personal nature, Dean has had a relationship with the Vietnamese government for many years during the search for his brother's remains, which still have not been located.

I hate to remind you of this, but fighting in a war doesn't give anyone foreign policy experience. Clark beats Kerry on both the military and foreign experience bill. Foreign Policy isn't that difficult if you simply surround yourself with honest advisors with integrity and use common sense. Treat people how you'd like to be treated while not compromising the country's best interests. The BIG issue is the economy, the horrendous deficit and the sorry state of domestic issues. THOSE are the most important things. Dean is the only one with executive experience who has balanced a budget.

It's the deficit and decaying domestic situation...and it's all Dean this time around.

And it's true, I don't like Kerry. I have strong objections to some of the things he stands for. I also stand by what I said in my last post...all Kerry seems to care about it image and status, not about the actual work involved. That is a turn off. That being said, it doesn't mean I don't think he'd make a fine president at some point in the future. I do, however, think this is NOT the right time for him. He lacks the executive and budget balancing experience. We NEED that more than anything else if this country is to ever recover from what Bush has done to it.

[CMT]

13. I'm for Dean too and

I think he would be the best president given his strong record of accomplishment as a Governor. However, I also think Kerry would be a very fine president.

[w4rma]

16. I think Dean would make the best President of the United States.

I think Kerry would make a darn fine President of the United States.

I also think that Dean has the best chance to win the general election because he has, IMHO, the best political campaign I have ever seen or read about and the stances he has taken stake himself out in the center of the American population while all being good improvements over our current situtation.

But, I also think that Dean has what it takes to rebuild the Democratic Party into a a well oiled fighting machine. I don't think *any* of the other candidates can do that and I don't want the Democratic Party to miss out on this chance.

[no name no slogan]

17. We're not voting for a campaign; we're voting for PRESIDENT

When you vote for a campaign instead of a candidate, you end up with the likes of Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

IMHO, in the primary season, you should vote for the candidate who best represents your views and values.

ANY candidate is electable, and selecting a candidate solely based on his/her "electability" is a sham. If electability is your main criteria, you will be sorely disappointed when your selected candidate wins, and enacts his/her policy-- which you didn't agree with anyway!

Many liberals and progressives got a taste of this with Clinton, who talked a good liberal line but governed like a Republican. We aren't about to roll over in 2004 and get behind a centrist because s/he "might" do something somewhat liberal once elected.

[sandnsea]

18. Dean has run a smart campaign

It's connected online and brought in alot of Bush haters. That's for certain. But he's made too many Iraq statements that just aren't going to appeal to most Americans. He's got some serious problems on what he actually did in Vermont in regards to taxes. His health program is projected to run serious deficits. It seems to me his entire platform is actually quite shaky when it comes to mainstream Americans and that's one of the reasons I don't support him. The other is that I sincerely believe he's talked out of both sides of his mouth which would also hurt him in the general election.

At the same time, every candidate would have problems up against Rove. So the question to me comes down to which candidate has a proven record on things that are important to me as well as a record on things that are important to most Americans, like foreign relations, defense and business. The answer is simple, John Kerry.

[clar]

23. I respect your

dedidcation to your candidate, but I think a lot of you Kerry folks just can't see Kerry's shortcomings re campaigning.

As far as your Dean criticism goes, it appears that your visceral dislike of the man gets in the way of honest appraisal.

[sandnsea]

25. You started the thread

You're the one that said Kerry would be the better President but that you thought only Dean could beat Bush. Why are you on my ass? I just pointed out why I don't think Dean can beat Bush. I also said all the candidates would have a tough time against Rove, but that I thought Kerry had the policies that were going to appeal to more voters which is why I think he is the only one who can beat Bush. If you don't want a dissenting opinion, you might say so in your posts so everybody will know to either agree with you or go away.

[clar]

28. Don't be so

touchy. I'm not trying to stifle your opinion. I'm simply amplifying mine.

[ozone_man]

19. I did have a problem with Kerry's Iraq vote.

But I agree in most other way's about Kerry seeming aristocratic. He doesn't have the spunk that Dean has. He is a Washington insider. Still, I feel better about him than Clark.

Dean is very direct and can really connect with people. He will easily beat Bush.

[reachout]

20. Big but

I'm a big Kucinich reporter, but I am willing to set aside my reservations and support Dean if he looks like his momentum is still going strong after Iowa and New Hampshire (I'll still vote DK here in my state primary).

I agree that Kerry generally has a very good record. I think he would have been much better off politically voting against the IWR. Aside from that, his campaign just hasn't shown me the fire I think it takes to win. I keep thinking maybe the passion will break through, but in the first couple of debates I just wasn't seeing it. It reminds me of Dukakis. I liked the guy and voted for him, but I really wanted some him to show some fire in the belly.

[rucky]

22. It's Not an Either/Or

9 1/2 Great Democrats! We should be proud.