Daily Democrat: A positive discussion about Howard Dean

[Skinner]

In an effort to provide for some enlightening discussion, rather than partisan flaming, the administrators have decided to post regular threads about the candidates for the Democratic nomination which are reserved for positive discussion only. These threads will be called the "Daily Democrat".

Currently, we intend to post two Daily Democrat discussion threads per day. If a particular thread becomes too long, then the moderators will open additional threads as necessary. These discussion threads will be allowed to stay open until the next two Daily Democrat threads are opened at some point the following day.

THE RULES

The rules for these Daily Democrat candidate threads are as follows. (For the purposes of these rules, the candidate who is the subject of the thread is referred to as the "Daily Democrat".)

1. You are welcome to post anything positive about the Daily Democrat. You can explain why you support that person. You can dispel myths about that candidate. You can discuss that person's positions on various issues. Whatever.

2. You are allowed to favorably compare the Daily Democrat to other candidates, provided that you are not unnecessarily inflammatory or antagonistic to the other candidates.

3. You may not post attacks of any kind against the Daily Democrat. Furthermore, you cannot post criticism and try to pass it off as a compliment ("I enthusiastically support candidate X because he ruined his state's economy!")

4. You may not discuss the supporters of any candidate (that goes for the the Daily Democrat, or any other candidate).

5. Undecided voters are encouraged to ask questions about the Daily Democrat in order to better inform their choice. Note that criticism disguised as a question will not be allowed.

6. You may not start another discussion thread for the purposes of responding to comments made in the "Daily Democrat" thread. Sorry -- you just have to suck it up and let the positive discussion continue uninterrupted.

7. I will not babysit the Daily Democrat thread, because I believe it will not be necessary. It is the responsibility of every member to know and follow the rules. Deliberate disruption of the Daily Democrat thread, or efforts by opponents to influence the Daily Democrat thread, will result in the banning of the individual(s) responsible.

8. I reserve the right to change the rules as necessary to make this work.

TIMING

We will discuss two Daily Democrats per day, and cycle through the list of presidential candidates in modified alphabetical order.

12/04 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/05 - Howard Dean ....... and ... Joe Lieberman
12/06 - John Edwards ...... and ... Carol Moseley Braun
12/07 - Dick Gephardt ..... and ... Al Sharpton
12/08 - John Kerry ........ and ... Wesley Clark
12/09 - Dennis Kucinich ... and ... Howard Dean
12/10 - Joe Lieberman ..... and ... John Edwards
12/11 - Carol Moseley Braun and ... Dick Gephardt
12/12 - Al Sharpton ....... and ... John Kerry
12/13 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/14 - Etc...

LET'S GET STARTED

Here's your chance for some positive discussion of Howard Dean! Who wants to start it off?

[Hawkeye-X]

1. About time!

Dean is the man -- he has the best possible endorsement ever - Albert Arnold Gore, Jr, our legitimate 43rd President of the United States.

Yes, I continue to refuse to recognize the legitimacy of *.

I contributed $25 today to my man, Dean. I want my goddamn country back from the special interest and back to the people where it belongs!

To me, Dean stands for consistency, integrity, truthfulness, and represent the little guy of America. And his money machine will now soon match * dollar for dollar as the elections approach closer. With Al Gore's 50 million plus voters, there is a potential to meet and exceed *'s 200 million warchest very easily with just $40 per voter, and with the average of $77 per voter, using this calculation:

$77 * 50,000,000 = $385,000,000! Nearly double the amount that * will have in his warchest.


Hawkeye-X

[theivoryqueen]

2. In light of the big gun endorsements of Mr. Dean

I guess I better get more aquainted with his positions. Anybody out there- where does he stand on abortion rights, taxation, civil rights - patriot act, esp., miranda rulings, environmental concerns, and other?

[Maeve]

3. Start off question---give me two reasons to support Dean, please

I'm only asking for two because I want to see what really draws you to the candidate (and yes, I did this yesterday in Clark and Kerry's threads--I'm seriously still looking)

I'm still undecided--still shopping. What are the top two reason you have for me to buy?

[Kamika]

4. He voted no on Iraq

That's one

[Terwilliger]

14. what?

who voted no? Dean didn't vote anything...he said that he was against this war.

[Hawkeye-X]

9. HEre's my reasoning

1) His consistency. He has deflected major amount of ammo in the past few months plus has turned to any potential scandals (Confederate flag, sealed records) into petty nothingness. I consider him the most consistent of all, despite other people say he flip-flops too much. I disagree, and to that extent, has changed his focus from the state level (supporting the waste shipment in Yucca Mountain while he was a governor), to a federal or national level (opposing the waste shipment to Yucca Mountain as a presidential candidate)

2) Very little, if any, skeletons vs. Bush's major amount of skeletons which the press continues to ignore. Yes, Dean used to drink, but he quit when he got married, and he turned his party-boy attitude to something serious, being a doctor. Some people say that his Park Ave attitude remains the same. Not so, since he has lived in Vermont for more than 20 years, he knows and have cared for the people in Vermont, and have done a lot for them. You have to compare Dean's consistent devotion to his job vs. Bush's failing jobs because he parties constantly and drinks and ask for Daddy's help.

That's my thinking right now.

Hawkeye-X

[CheshireCat]

31. Two reasons to support Dean

-Dean can beat Bush. He is a winner.

-He seems to be able to handle the press. No matter how hard the media whores try, Howard Dean is able to deflect the negative slant. This is something that most Democrats have trouble with.

Usually, I support the candidate that is the most closely alligned with my political beliefs (far left). Kucinich would be my choice in most election years.

However, 2004 is different from any of the presidential elections since I first became involved in 1972. Bush MUST be defeated! Our democracy is truly at stake.

Up to now, I have not declared support for any candidate. But it is looking more and more likely that Dean is the one to defeat Bush.

Those of you who understand the importance of getting rid of Bush should pledge your support to the winner of the primary, no matter how much it hurts. It is the only way we can get rid of Idiot Boy.

I make a pledge to support the winner of the Dem primary for president - whoever it is.

[Maeve]

34. Handling the negative press is important

Heaven knows the Faux folks can dish out plenty!

[JNelson6563]

47. I PMed you a missive

haha Cause I love ya my fellow marketeer.

:-)

Julie

[Maeve]

52. And an interesting read, too!

I also find Dean's medical background and interest to be a hopeful sign--and his willingness to go against the flow. That willingness and his ability to energize folks seem to be major pluses.

[NJGeek]

5. What I like most about Dean ...

1) He understands that social-political constraints on opportunity in this country are often masked by appeals to religion and race.

2) He understands the transforming power technology can have on peoples lives -- in both positive and negative ways.

3) He will not sell our environment or our workers out.

4) He has gravitas and the will to stand up to Bush and his cronies.

[theivoryqueen]

7. He is a MD, right?

Is he still licensed? I think it would be great to have an actual health care provider in office - maybe we'd see some actual compassion! And he'd probably bring a much wider vision and experience to the healthcare/medicare issues.

[Hawkeye-X]

10. Yes. He's still licensed

He continues to pay his dues, even though he was a former governor.

Hawkeye-X

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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

[PVnRT]

32. This is positive, how?

:shrug:

[slinkerwink]

33. how is that positive?

[RandomKoolzip]

37. The rules for this thread occupy a large part of the original post..

How did you miss them?

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

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

[Maeve]

44. Please note the following from Skinner's opening

1. You are welcome to post anything positive about the Daily Democrat. You can explain why you support that person. You can dispel myths about that candidate. You can discuss that person's positions on various issues. Whatever.

2. You are allowed to favorably compare the Daily Democrat to other candidates, provided that you are not unnecessarily inflammatory or antagonistic to the other candidates.

3. You may not post attacks of any kind against the Daily Democrat. Furthermore, you cannot post criticism and try to pass it off as a compliment ("I enthusiastically support candidate X because he ruined his state's economy!")

It's a limited discussion--limited to positives.

[Maeve]

29. I've heard something about his "home visit" nurse program in Vermont

Sending a nurse out free of charge after a birth. That seems like such a remarkably SENSIBLE preventative and supportive measure! While it may not be feasable on a national level(state level sort of program best handled locally, I think), it does show vision.

[Frances]

6. Great idea!

I come to DU to cheer myself up. I love the approach of saying positive things about OUR candidates.

[dsc]

8. What is not to like?

I have supported lots of losers over the years. President Simon, President Tsongas, and so many losing Governors. Yet here I have a winner and a person worth having win. I am proud to support Dean because he there on gay rights. I am proud to support Dean because he was right on the Iraq War. I am proud to support Dean because he has run an awesome campaign. I am proud to support Dean because he is taking it to Bush. I am proud to support Dean because he his changing how funds are raised for campaigns and may well save our party by having done so. I could go on but you get the idea.

[theboss]

11. He is running a 21st Century campaign

I give the man all the credit in the world for the rabid support he has inspired on the Internet.

And his model for raising funds will probably be copied for years to come.

[TrueAmerican]

12. He makes a good Governor

He also might make a good Surgeon General.

[CWebster]

20. backhanded slight.

If you don't have anything good to say...

[RandomKoolzip]

24. *sigh* Skinner, even the best of intentions....

Just when I thought It was safe to return to the GD....

[slinkerwink]

13. Dean got the endorsement of Al Gore!

and his grassroots base is all fired up now!

[realFedUp]

15. because Dean loves DU

and DUers. :-)

[RandomKoolzip]

16. That's more like it...

I like Dean. He was the guy ho as ballsy enough to say no to IWR, the guy smart enough to be a grassrooter instead of a corporate whore, the guy smart enough to harness the potential of the internet to drive his campaign, and the guy who seems to raise issues in the media which we here on DU consider to be the most relevant.

His stance on the 2nd amendment, and his fiscal record should attract swing voters, his rock-em-sock-em demeanor is a total, refreshing break from past Dem candidate's milquetoast touchy-feely approach, and he's a doctor, not a professional lobbyist for the oil industry disguised as a politician.

I'd still like to hear him talk some more about the environment, though. If he were to propose something like a sweeping clean air bill in his platform that would seek out and support new businesses interested in making cars run on cleaner fuel, while decreasing the money spent on producing and going to war for oil, then he'd win in a landslide- even repub voters know that the oil industry is destroying th air we have to breathe.

And Al Gore likes him. The guy's got the momentum.

One thing about the criticism of Dean lately...I believe that once Dean secures the nomination, he will be smart enough to surround himself with the BEST advisors, and be able to steer his campaign towards a clearly positive area.

[Maeve]

21. The populist appeal is very interesting

And I know Molly Ivins likes him, too. Being able to energize a wide group of people who are new (or relatively new) to politics is a plus when facing an entrenched corporate favorite.

[Eloriel]

28. Environment

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=policy_statement_environment

Pls. read it. It's just an overview, but includes this:

Fifth, America is capable of making incredible gains in efficiency and renewable energy technologies. That’s why I will set ambitious goals for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and fuel economy standards. I call on American automakers to embrace change, to see the new opportunities ahead, rather than waste time and energy resisting progress. The Japanese, instead of opposing California’s strict emissions requirements, rolled out hybrid gasoline-electric automobiles that are on the road today. In fact, Toyota is already rolling out the second generation of its Prius model. I believe that American automakers should not only catch up, they should become efficiency leaders and market leaders. Under a Dean Administration, they will get the support they would need to make this a reality.

---

Pls also take a look at his press releases and look up his major Env. speech of some months ago.

[RandomKoolzip]

36. I read that a long time ago....

I've been a DEan supporter since he first came out against the War.

I like what he has to say, but it still seems like he never mentions this plank in his time with the media. I believe he should be promoting this part of his platform way more than he does. And he should be talking to people from Greenpeace and other organiztions to help him find an acceptable head for the EPA should he win the WH and start appointing cabinet members. It just doesn't seem like he's going after the envirinmental arm of his campaign like he should.

But other than that, he's still my favorite.

[mmonk]

17. He can win the northeast in a general election, maybe?

I like the covering children with medicare/medicaid thing.

[Terwilliger]

18. had to get your dig in, eh?

[CWebster]

22. My thought exactly

[RandomKoolzip]

23. Did you read the rules?

Remember, Skinner isn't gonna babysit us- your self-policing instinct shoulda kicked in before you posted that.

[mzmolly]

19. HOWARD DEAN ... The next President of the United States

Can't think of anything more positive than that! :)

[elcondor]

25. Al Gore likes him!

:-) Seriously, with Gore's endorsement, I think I'll have to give Dean another look over. I also think that having an MD as president when we need health care reform the most would be a good thing.

[Gringo]

26. He's for real - not a tool.

I'm sure of it. If the GOP were really backing him as some say, that would mean that they thought he would be easy to beat, but given the unpredictability of the many variables, it also would mean that he is a candidate that they WOULD NOT MIND being in the White House. That being the case, if he were a knowing GOP tool and got into the White House, he would still be forced to govern as a moderate democrat a la Clinton. That is an acceptable outcome for me.

If he is being used by the GOP & DOESN'T realize it, that means he's got the independence he needs to surprise them and possibly win, and then govern as he sees fit.

All the talk about GOP underwriting Dean's campaign seems like just that - talk to try and undermine him. He invigorated this campaign from the start, and he deserves all the support he's getting.

Clark's fine military record aside, where was he back in March when most of us democrats who KNEW this war was a scam, and a sure-fire disaster waiting to happen, were left twisting in the wind by our own party? Oh yeah, he was schmoozing with the CNN warmongers, lovingly describing for the war-crazed masses just how wonderful our weaponry and troops are, and NEVER publicly made a peep about what a bad idea this war was.

Dean was there, giving voice to what we all knew was true at the time, even though nobody was listening. Good for you Dean, we're behind you.

[GalleryGod]

49. Way to be Positive,Mr. G

:puffpiece:

[Eloriel]

30. Too many things --

esp. with a broken right hand. I'll just post links to his wonderful SC speech and the DU thread about it:

Restoring the American Community - SC, Dec. 7, 2003
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002565.html#more
DU thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=844281#846961

[PVnRT]

35. He has people fired up

You have to admit then, no matter who you support - he has assembled a grassroots organization few have ever seen.

Combine that with Clark, and you would have an unbeatable ticket, I think.

[LTR]

38. Dean and the issues: I guess it's fair to ask this

What issues are you Dean supporters most concerned about, and where does Dean stand on them?

I'm a Clark guy. Sell me your candidate.

[RandomKoolzip]

41. See my post above....

Plus, his stance on any war besides the Iraq War was a little unnerving- I remember saying that he's usually pretty hawkish. But he knows who his constituency is now, and it's doubtful he'll be doing to much more to piss off his now-burgeoning liberal base. This is my hope: that due to his incredible fundraising ability, he can now afford the best of advisors, who will use feelers in the liberal community to gauge the mood of his supporters, and use the info thay gather to help shape his policy. To some, this might be flip-flopping; to me, it's a smart way to avoid alienating his new huge audience: the left.

[Walt Starr]

39. Howard Dean is now my one and only choice for the nomination

There can be no stronger statement of support than the endorsement of Howard Dean by President Al Gore.

I place my stake in the ground here. I am now and will remain a Deanie for the rest of the primary season.

If Howard is good enough for President Gore, he's good enough for me.

[Cheswick2.0]

40. he can't be all bad of Al Gore likes him

:7

[Logansquare]

42. People-powered Howard

It's no empty cliche.

I'm confident that others will articulate Dean's platform and his accomplishments as governor, so I don't feel a need to repeat this in the discussion. I'd like to address the fact that previous to Dr. Dean's candidacy, I've only once given money to a presidential campaign (Gore 2000), and never actively campaigned for a presidential candidate.

The Dean campaign has introduced me to my first phone-calling, letter-writing, and flyering. The people behind Howard Dean are at least as important to me as the Dr. himself. I went to my first Meetup, and right away I was part of a political community who was clear, supportive and effective in promoting a progressive candidate. I've gotten this from local level campaigns, but never from the DNC "wear this button and shut up" level campaigns.

[jumptheshadow]

45. Howard Dean was right when few other people were

He took a brave and principled stand against the Iraqi war.

He created an amazing primary campaign infrastructure that moved the political process forward.

He energized many people who were formerly apolitical.

And Walt Starr has endorsed him.

[meow mix]

46. he has lots of NRG!

he can rally people, hes a motivational speaker!
puts matt foley to shame =)

[JVS]

48. I like Kucinich better but Dean is also a fine choice.

The Republicans are not afraid to rally their base and we shouldn't be afraid to rally ours either.

[duvinnie]

50. I like this!

A positive thread, what a concept!

Seriously, all the candidates have something on the plus side.
Howard Dean has +s and -s too, and anyone who reads DU
probably has heard a lot of them.

Here's one reason I support Dean: He is getting people of all stripes
interested in politics because they can see the connection to their
own lives. Sounds basic, but when we realize that the last few
elections have had some of the lowest turnouts in history,
bringing people back into the game is in itself a radical achievement.

[LeahMira]

51. Can we compare, please?

2. You are allowed to favorably compare the Daily Democrat to other candidates, provided that you are not unnecessarily inflammatory or antagonistic to the other candidates.

OK. Would anyone care to favorably compare Dean to Kucinich? On ideas, please.

[killbotfactory]

53. Dean's the man

He was right on universal healthcare, Bush's tax cuts, No child left behind, and the Iraq war before everyone else. He's not an idealogue, and will pursue pragmatic steps in the right direction if he can't get it done in one step. He has the right approach to dealing with new issues and determining what is right, and is unafraid to defend a position he believes is right no matter what the polls say. He withstood the civil unions backlash in VT admirably. In his state he lowered taxes, balanced the budget, balanced the needs of business and the environment perfectly, ensured nearly every child had health care, raised the minimum wage, and put VT on the path of fiscal responsibility which has helped them endure the national slump elsewhere.

And now he has the most supporters, the most money, and is leading in nearly all the polls.

Dean's the man.

[slinkerwink]

56. he's DA man!!!!

;-)

[Cleita]

54. Aside from the hoopla,

he's the only candidate who has a concrete plan to drain the swamp Bush has created. He also may be the one President who can fix our broken medical system. This is more necessary than ever, now that the Republicans have shot Medicare full of holes. We really need health care for the whole country, not just a certain age demographic.

[UrbScotty]

55. I just LOVE Dean, Clark, and Kucinich!

You should see them at the debate tonight!

[eissa]

57. Here are my reasons

It was not only his anti-war stance, it was his timing of it. I remember the early days of Spring when it looked like the whole friggen country was beating the drums of war. Anyone who spoke out against it in any way was labeled unpatriotic, or worse. I felt I was self-censoring in discussions on the topic. And here comes this man, not an artist or writer, but a candidate for POTUS no less, and he has the brass balls to speak out forcefully against this administration when leaders in our own party were just tagging along for the ride. He provided leadership when we needed it. That says A LOT about him. Then I checked out his website to learn more: he's pro-choice, he provided health care for many in his state, he inherited a deficit and turned it into a surplus, he created jobs. Sounds good to me. He is passionate, and say what you want, but that energizes people and gets them to the polls, and that's what we will need to beat *.