Molly Ivins: Picking a Winner (Dean)

[pruner]

Molly Ivins: Picking a winner

By MOLLY IVINS, Creators Syndicate
December 4, 2003

AUSTIN, Texas -- No one has been waiting with bated breath for me to make up my mind about the Democratic presidential candidates, but I have, and you might be interested in how I got there. I'm for Howard Dean -- because he's going to win.

<snip>

For a while, I fretted over Dean being angry, or at least appealing to the political anger that is normally manipulated by right-wing radio jocks. Anger makes liberals uncomfortable: We prefer peace, reason and gentle persuasion. Beloveds, it is way past time for us to get mad -- social, economic and political justice are being perverted by the Bush administration.

Dean gives a hell of a speech -- even if you're Republican, you should go and hear him just for the experience. But I fretted about Dean on TV -- TV is so important. How could anyone poker up on Margaret Carlson of PBS, not one of the world's toughest interviewers? But then I saw Dean laugh his way through a Chris Matthews interview (which he should have done with Tim Russert, who was hell-bent on gotcha questions), and I know the guy can take care of himself. So he fights back if you get in his face -- that's not all bad.

I know, he's even less of a liberal than Bill Clinton was, but I don't think Dean is a moderate centrist. I think he's a fighting centrist. And folks, I think we have got ourselves a winner here.

http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/pe_columnists/article/0,2071,NPDN_14960_2475972,00.html

[Closer]

1. Goddamn

I love her.

[liberalnurse]

27. She is like a fairy godmother for democrats.

I love her like Christmas.

[Fleshdancer]

61. roflmao

"I love her like Christmas" - What a great way to describe it, I'm going to start using that one.

[goforit]

62. Yes she is Our "fairy god mother"............Kudos to libralnurse!!!

Cheers to Miss Ivans!!! :toast:

Cheers to Dean!!! :toast:

[slinkerwink]

2. That's AWESOME!!!

I HEART Molly Ivins---not just because she went to my college, but because she's a kickass op-ed writer!

[janx]

19. "Fighting centrist"--it's about time!

Sanity may be returning to this country.

Slink, again I say: It's working! I am so happy and all of a sudden, so proud.

[KoKo]

60. Her reasoning is Excellent! What a Treat this article is! Wow!

Best news in a long time.

[Cha]

3. Wow! Molly's for Dean already!

My my my!
"Meanwhile, there's old Dean, causin' excitement. I went up to Vermont and talked to a bunch of liberals there. They all said Howard Dean is no liberal. Funny, that's what Howard Dean says, too. And indeed, he isn't, but in politics, everything's relative. The conventional wisdom first dismissed Howard Dean (the man has never been to a Washington dinner party!), then condescended to him, then graciously offered him instruction on how he should be running his campaign -- which seemed to be going along quite well without their input."

[madfloridian]

5. Ha, zidzi, great minds do the same thing at the same time.

:silly:

[Cha]

7. Now that's funny! I love it when that happens!

:silly:

[mandyky]

37. Every time I see or hear someone say

"I went up to VerMONT", I think of the K Street episode where Dean was imitating Carville. LOL
Great news for Dean and us deaniacs, about Molly.

[madfloridian]

4. Love this part.

.."Meanwhile, there's old Dean, causin' excitement. I went up to Vermont and talked to a bunch of liberals there. They all said Howard Dean is no liberal. Funny, that's what Howard Dean says, too. And indeed, he isn't, but in politics, everything's relative. The conventional wisdom first dismissed Howard Dean (the man has never been to a Washington dinner party!), then condescended to him, then graciously offered him instruction on how he should be running his campaign -- which seemed to be going along quite well without their input....."

Dismissal, then condescension, then paying attention. And he is no liberal. He says he isn't. LOL

[Eloriel]

18. Dismissal, then condescrension --

First they ignore you
Then they laugh at you
Then they fight you
Then you win -- Gandhi


:-)


Eloriel

[Zomby Woof]

6. I love Molly Ivins

The first time I ever read her many years ago, I fell in love.

I respectfully disagree with her on this one, but I still love her regardless. :-)

[Khephra]

8. I TOLD YOU ALL!

Hehehehehehehehehehe!

I was so upset that I was the only person who heard her say that she was supporting Dean during that booksigning on CSPAN. Some of you actually had me doubting whether I had heard her saying that she supported Dean or not.

I'm soooo happy that I was right on this one.


:evilgrin:

[pruner]

9. I heard it too

but this is certainly much better as far as formal endorsements go.

:)

[Khephra]

10. It's always nice to have written proof to back something

like this up.

:-)

[bpilgrim]

14. i like it when you're right

:toast:

as i am sure you know i am a kucinich supporter myself but dean is certainly my number 2 man. liked him very early on and i haven't been disapointed yet...

a centrist fighter who's bout to KO *

go DEAN :bounce:

peace

[eileen from OH]

25. Thanks, bpilgrim. ..

always nice to see posts from people who realize that we really are all on the same side.

Kudos to you for your post.

eileen from OH

[Khephra]

29. I personally love Kucinich too

Actually, I like and have few problems with Clark, Kucinich, Braun, or Sharpton.

:hi:

[frank frankly]

11. well well well

another fine endorsement for doctor dean.

[Minstrel Boy]

12. Good choice, Molly

"Doesn't seem like a good year for a regular politician on account of we ain't lookin' at regular politics."

My thoughts precisely.

[Oreegone]

13. I love Molly

She smiled as she looked at my Dean T-Shirt a couple of months ago. She grinned and said "Give em hell", I laughed, it was her stock answer. She said," No I mean Give them More Hell, lotsa hell"..I assured her I had ever intention of doing so. .I have been waiting for this article ever since. Glad to see it has arrived. Molly is a wonderful human being a one of a kind....Love ya Molly....:loveya:

[slinkerwink]

17. she's totally kickass!

I :heart: her so much! :bounce:

[RummyTheDummy]

20. Would you love her as much if she picked Kerry or Clark?

NT

[HuckleB]

21. Yes, I would.

.

[eileen from OH]

24. yeah, and I STILL would have loved her

if she'd picked Holy Joe, even if I disagreed with her. Because she's got cojones, she tells it honestly, and she doesn't back down.

Really. Truly. Honestly. I would have been disappointed, but if she'd laid it out for Joe, or Kerry, or Clark, the way she did for Dean I would love her no less.

eileen from OH

[Myra]

26. Um, remember, I'm just quoting her... :)

When Molly was in Seattle with Al Franken at
the opera house, she flat out said she was impressed
with every candidate...except Lieberman.

Dang I love me some Molly.

[Pastiche423]

15. YeeHaw, Molly!

I knew you wouldn't let us down.

I :loveya: Molly!

[HuckleB]

16. Wow! I love her stuff. She's always on top of her game.

And this piece is no exception. She lays out the whys so very well.

[Rose Siding]

22. What a day

Thanks Molly. We have got ourselves a winner :toast:

[Myra]

23. Wow. This is huge.

Not putting anyone on a pedestal (ok, trying not to),
but I respect Molly as much as anyone in the world.

[minkyboodle]

28. thats a hell of an endorsement

I respect Ivin's opinion. I'm a Kucinich supporter but if Dean gets the nom I will support him. This is a good thing for all the Dean fans out there. Molly carries a great deal of cred with me.
Scott

[HFishbine]

53. Thank you Minky!

Or is that Ms. Boodle?

[Adjoran]

30. Congratulations to Dean

It is very unusual for op-ed columnists to endorse a candidate before the primaries are at least well under way, so this is a big + for the Dean campaign.

[REP]

31. Ivins and Pollitt - Wow

Just when I thought I couldn't respect either of them any more than I already did...

[HFishbine]

54. When's Pitt

going to come around? ;)

[VolcanoJen]

32. That's a great column, as usual, from the great Molly Ivins.

I think her endorsement, and her thorough explanation of how she came to her decision, is just wonderful!!

:D :D :D

More great news for Dean... this guy's on one helluva roll.

[Hoppin_Mad]

33. Good Golly Miss Molly ! :-)

yeah !

[Andromeda]

34. Gotta love that gal!

:kick:

[ulysses]

35. heh

I am rather surprised not to find myself in the camp of the Noble Dennis Kucinich this year.

Me too, Molly. God, but I love that woman! :D

[Triana]

36. I *heart* Molly...

...that woman has got moxy and common sense. More than I can say for most folks these days (DUers excepted, of course - I'm speaking mostly of the general misinformed populace & Bu$h voters)

[Jacobin]

38. Molly, as usual, mirrors my sentiments exactly

She is a national treasure.

[TrueAmerican]

39. I just hope she endorses Clark when he wins the nomination

Sooner or later she'll have to get it right when Clark wins.

I hope Dean and his people don't ruin the the Convention by not unifying behind Clark.

[Habibi]

40. lol

she's a little mean to Kerry and Gep, though.

[Rowdyboy]

41. Awesome, I love Molly!

Wish she had decided differently, but, I respect her opinion regardless. I expect Ms Ivins and I will end up supporting the same candidate after the convention, whether its her choice, mine , or one of the others.

In the meantime, my sincerest congratulations to Dean supporters. You just nabbed yourselves a BIGGGGG endorsement.

[wryter2000]

63. Thanks, Rowdyboy

:hi: And if your guy gets the nomination, I'm 110% behind him.

Wow, Molly :loveya: picks my guy. This makes my day! :bounce:

[Justice]

42. Ivins Told Us The Truth About Shrub Years Ago

And was dead on.

I respect her enormously. I don't agree with her first choice, but will support the nominee.

One thing -- Margaret Carlson one of the toughest interviewers? Don't think so.

[pruner]

45. I think you misread that…

How could anyone poker up on Margaret Carlson of PBS, not one of the world's toughest interviewers?

:)

[CWebster]

43. Well Molly, Who cares about what a well-informed progressive like you

thinks when there is Madonna to discuss foreign policy with.

;-)

Anyway, Molly brings up a good point. Dean is a fighter where Clinton was more of a compromiser. And these times call for a fighter.

[wndycty]

44. This is a good get for Dean and his supporters. . .

. . .and unlike many who tune out people who don't support their candidate, I will continue to read and enjoy Molly Ivins.

[xultar]

47. Agreed

[returnable]

46. Dean's most impressive endorsement yet

Kudos :toast:

[unfrigginreal]

48. Thank You Molly!

And to do it without trying to tear down another candidate, like, um, MWO.

[wndycty]

50. See post #44

. . .and witness what a mature Democrat does when his candidate is not supported by someone he or she reads regularly.

[returnable]

56. In stark contrast to some...

...of the crybabies who stunk up this thread, eh?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=818903&mesg_id=818903

:hi:

[myopinion]

49. I agree with Molly

Dean has done the best job so far in New Hampshire. I just got a Dean News letter in the snail mail, no one else here is doing the work he is. He has got my vote for now.

And on a personal note, I may have a low posting count, and you can call me any name you want, but please don’t call me a republican.

[UTUSN]

51. The Most Impressive Part of a Very Impressive Piece

"It is the bounden duty of bleeding-heart liberals like myself to make our political choices based on purity of heart, nobility of character, depth of compassion, sterling integrity and generosity of spirit. The concept of actually winning a political race does not, traditionally, influence the bleeding heart liberal one iota -- certainly not in the primaries.

Over the years, I have proudly voted for a list of losers only a lily-pure liberal could love."

[Gin]

52. I agree Molly!

Yahoo! :)

[mzmolly]

65. Heh...

:) An opportunity to kick as well. :kick:

[TSIAS]

55. kick

[Paulie]

57. Nice Molly

You settle for Dean, even over "The Noble Dennis Kucinich".

I understand where you are, but some of us still have hope for a Democrat to get the nod. :) :) :)

Paulie, owner of all of Molly's books, in print and audio. :D

[realFedUp]

58. A good piece of news to send to your e-mail pals

If you haven't yet bugged your list about any
candidate yet...this is a good opener, especially
for the women on your list.

[mzmolly]

59. Me love Molly!!!!

I'm glad she made this formal. She's brilliant, and I agree with her choice for President!

"A Fighting Centrist"... I like it. :) We need a fighter damnit!

[TopesJunkie]

64. I'm happy to hear it

Go Molly!