Bushies Keen on Dean as W.'s Ideal Foe

[giantrobot_2000]

Wake up and SMELL THE COFFEE, kiddies!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/144493p-127803c.html

White House political strategists believe Howard Dean has a hammerlock on the 2004 Democratic nomination - and they're trying hard not to gloat about it.

Senior Bush political managers have been ordered to curb their cockiness but many of them privately say President Bush has drawn the opponent of his dreams in Dean - a left-leaning Democrat they contend can be tarred as a latter-day George McGovern.

"The best thing Bush has going for him is that Dean is a weak Michael Dukakis," a key Bush official told the Daily News. "Dukakis won 10 states. Unless things turn very bad for Bush, I don't see Dean winning more than five."

The source concedes New York and California to Dean, and presumably his home state of Vermont, but does not spell out where else the Democrat could win...

A second prominent campaign adviser echoed: "We are extraordinarily happy today."

[giantrobot_2000]

1. Check this out

Face the facts, Deansters:

"As early as last August, Bush political aides were silently cheering on Dean's candidacy from the sidelines.

'We can't say this publicly,' one aide said then, 'but we love that Dean's coming on. Never in a million years did we think there was a chance we'd get Dean.'"

[malakai]

6. Hmmmm....

What do you suppose those aides would be saying if Clark was the nominee? Edwards? Kerry? Gephardt?

I think no matter who held the lead, this same sort of thing would be leaking out.

[Dr Fate]

11. "leaking" my foot. This is coordinated propaganda...

...and you are ight- they would spin any candidate like this. In 2000 they were saying "Bring us the trial lawyer" when Gore considered Edwards for VP...

[malakai]

29. Right

I forgot the "quotes". This is a very simple strategy on their part, and an effective one for anyone who doesn't see it working.

If they can demoralize us by making us believe that our actions are what they want, they effectively persuade us into a position that truly does favor them. Possibly the best way for them to stay in power is to ensure infighting among us...we are merely being complicit by giving this any serious attention.

[wtmusic]

10. What, the fact that some aide made a comment?

That's a TERRIBLE fact to face. But perhaps he should face the fact that Dean has come from being a nobody to a frontrunner in 6 months, a feat unrivalled in American political history. He has set the record for the most money raised in one quarter pre-primary.

I'm cheering right along with them...

[DS1]

14. what do you expect them to say? Oh shit! Here comes Dean?

Please.

[wtmusic]

2. Can't wait to wipe that smile off their faces

:-)

[giantrobot_2000]

5. Ha

"Can't wait to wipe that smile off their faces"

You'll be wearing that smile on your face as Dean marches this country into the slaughterhouse.

[wtmusic]

12. *dark, sinister chord*

:nopity:

[LSdemocrat]

3. Be careful what you wish for . . .

In 1980, Jimmy Carter wanted to face Ronald Reagan.

In 1992, George Bush wanted to face Bill Clinton.

[Sean Reynolds]

7. Yup.

Hell I was sorta cheering for BUSH to win the primaries in 2000 because I thought John McCain could be Gore, but a dumbass from Texas? Never!

[BurtWorm]

4. Dupe.

[janx]

16. This place is crawling with freepers.

.

[Robbien]

17. Yep, but they have to distract DUers somehow

Post as many threads as possible and two or three times if they have to. Just keep them distracted is the gameplan.

[janx]

23. Were you referring to my post or the one before that?

?

Because I maintain that this place is crawling with freepers.

[Dr Fate]

8. They are on the defensive, no matter what DEM...

...that is why Bush/media attacks ALL the viable candidates, not just Dean.

While I think Clark would make a stronger candidate than Dean- I'm not buying the media perception that a fight against Dean would be a "cake walk" for Bush.

If Dean wins the nom, he is going to give Bush hell- and if Clark is his VP- WATCHOUT!!!

This is just Bush/media trying to sow uncertainty and confusion-

The media REPORTED this story- that means that ROVE WANTS you to read it and believe it.

Think about it- why did Rove let this aleged "Dean cake-walk" perception "leak" to us? Because it's just "confuse the enemy" propaganda, that's why...

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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

[Dr Fate]

20. So I should not support Dean if he wins the Nom?

Just because the same guy who said Iraq would be a "cake walk" thinks Dean is a pushover??

I'll pass on letting Rove propaganda freak me out..

Rove "leaked" this info- he WANTS you to read it and believe it.

[janx]

25. I am the originator of: 10...9...8...7...6...

It's fun, and it's only a matter of time.

[Guaranteed]

26. NY Daily News

And I'm sure Hillary and Bill had nothing to do with it. ;)

[dreissig]

27. "Liberal Paper"

If you're calling the Daily News a liberal paper, it's you who needs to wake up. Who publishes it? It's that Mort Zuckerman, a regular on the McLaughlin Group. And a fire-breathing conservative.

[LeftCoast]

9. DOOOOOOOOOOM!

We're all doomed! The end is near. Doooooooooomed I say!

[janx]

13. Dupe. Are you aware that someone already posted this right-wing

source in LBN today?

Check it out.

[Dr Fate]

18. Bush/media also said Iraq would be a "cake walk"

We need to stop giving these hacks so much credit.

[liberalnurse]

19. I guess this is the first time I agree with *bush.....

I have had my eye on Dean too. Dean is just the candidate to send him BACK TO CRAWFORD, TX. and evict him from the White House.

In fact, Dean is the only democratic candidate who can now.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

21. They're trying to perpetuate the "Unelectable" image...

To discourage people from voting for him. They do the same sort of thing with every candidate. It's a political strategy, nothing more.

[Guaranteed]

22. DLC plant

The perpetual losers need to get the hell out of the way so we can win this thing. The Repukes don't even know what they're doing.

[robsul82]

24. Someone already said it, but it bears repeating.

King George the Elected was DROOLING to face the hick rube from a place called Hope.

Later.

RJS

[Dr Fate]

28. This article contradicts yours...

I guess Bush/media cant make up their minds!!!

GOP Advisers Who Had Relished Democrat's Candidacy Are Now More Wary

Advisers to President Bush once relished a race against Howard Dean, but they say they have become increasingly wary of him, worried that his unconventional and intense appeal poses a threat they had once underestimated.

Various officials from throughout Bush's political organization said they view the former Vermont governor's nomination as all but inevitable -- even though no votes will be cast until next month, and some well-connected Democrats still hope to derail Dean because they fear he is running too far to the left to be viable in next fall's general election.

The endorsement of Dean by former vice president Al Gore on Monday cemented the growing concern among GOP officials that Dean's lightning progress from also-ran to front-runner means that he could spawn unpredictable hazards for Bush. Although one administration official said Dean is still widely viewed in the White House as "a gift from God," a more cautious view is gaining currency.

"He has the biggest potential to go down in flames, but he also has a certain wild-card potential," said former Minnesota Republican representative Vin Weber.

Among the factors that most worry them, Bush officials said, is Dean's ability to attract young voters and others who have not voted before. Some of the officials said they also are given pause by Dean's similarities to their boss: a polarizing figure who has a temper and deep appeal to his core supporters.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54392-2003Dec10.html

[Moderator]

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[dreissig]

31. Unlike Gore and Dukakis, Dean ...

Attention, panic-stricken Democrats. Howard Dean is not a lackluster candidate like Michael Dukakis or Al Gore. This will not be a repeat of previous elections.

Dean is exciting. Dukakis wasn't. Gore wasn't. Dean will get Democrats out to vote. Dukakis didn't. Gore didn't. And now for the punch line: Dean will win. Dukakis didn't. Gore didn't.