Some fear Dean’s success helps Bush

[Nicholas_J]

July 19, 2003

By DICK POLMAN Knight Ridder Service

Howard Dean is hot, and that’s why enemies in his own party are coming after him. Dean’s fans say he’s a fighter, but his foes say he’s a loser...

Garrison Nelson, a Vermont political analyst, thinks Dean can move toward the middle — because that’s his instinct.

Nelson said: “I’ve known him 20 years. Howard became a liberal six months ago. Up here, he never got any kind of visceral response from liberals. I couldn’t count more than 10 people who would’ve walked through fire for the guy.

“He was always a man of the middle, what we used to call a ‘Rockefeller Republican.’ His father and grandfather were stockbrokers. He comes from old money. So has he really changed? Or is the Democratic party desperate to be in love with somebody? I think they’re desperate to be in love.”

McMahon, the Dean consultant, is happy to talk about Vermont. He said, “Dean balanced 11 state budgets — and it’s not required there.” He is pro-gun rights and pro-death penalty. He usually favored big business in environmental disputes. And he once said of welfare recipients that if they “had any self-esteem, they’d be working.”

But, in the months ahead, skeptical Democrats will argue that if Dean wins the nomination, Bush’s ad team would reduce him to a liberal cartoon — especially in the South, where gay rights and antiwar sentiments are not prized. Exhibit A would be Dean’s remark that “we won’t always have the strongest military.” Exhibit B would be his grudging praise for the ouster of Saddam Hussein (“I suppose that’s a good thing”).


http://www.rutlandherald.com/News/Story/68868.html

[quilp]

1. I don't want a saint. I want someone who can beat Bush

That's the bottom line.

[kstewart33]

2. That pretty well sums it up

Dean is not electable. The Repubs will eat him up. The sooner he drops out, the better chance the Dems have. And please, someone, tell him to mercifully drop the angry white male schtick.

[JohnKleeb]

3. I actually think he has a chance but to be honest

some things about him make me wonder why is he so appealing for some. He opposed the war yes but you know so did Bob Novak and Pat Bunchanan and yes he does have a nice plan on civil unions, and maybe he does stand up to Bush sometimes but you know thats three issues and you know maybe I am an idealist but you know I dont care number 1 and number 2 I am really starting to prefer Kerry to Dean although technically Kerry supported the war.

[LastRobot]

5. Angry white male schtick?

kstewart33 -

Could you please clarify the phrase "angry white male schtick"? I don't really get what that means. Thanks!

[kstewart33]

10. Ok

Everytime I've seen a clip of him giving a speech, he reminds me of the newscaster Howard Beale (played by Peter Finch) in the movie "Network" whose signature scream was "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!"

It gets so tiring, so easily. That, coupled with a disasterous Meet the Press appearance, leaves me cringing. He doesn't seem authentic at all, just a guy with a schtick.

The Repubs will kill him if he get the nod. So, respectfully, I'm hoping that he fizzles. But that's just one voter's view.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

13. Fair enough

I see how it could turn some people off. I happen to like his angry style (and he's not always angry, I think that's a bit of a misconception -- ) because I feel like he's speaking for me. But I know that not everyone feels this way, which is fine.

And Dean's not even the angriest candidate -- I think that would have to be Kucinich. I always want to cheer when he speaks because he expresses the anger I feel so well.

[poskonig]

4. Who is *tough* enough to take down Bush?

Dean is incredibly tough and has a talented campaign that is very resilient. Everyone knows that after Dean wins the nomination the GOP will try to paint Dean as the candidate of Muslims, Taxes, and Queers. While other candidates will get similar treatment (millionaire Kerry the medal chucker, Edwards the greedy trial lawyer, etc etc) Dean will have millions of grassroots supporters to counterattack the media on the ground.

Some campaigns believe they can get by with a few donations from people with over 100K, run a few commercials, mumble "Vietnam" or "regular people" a few times, and then snooze to victory. This campaign is going to take far more work than this, and the Dean campaign has the best resources for the job.

[kstewart33]

6. Please, tell me, what is likeable about this guy?

As a moderate Democrat, he is personally very unlikeable, and I like most people. This guy has be to likeable to get elected. What is likeable about him? I really what to know what other people think. I find his anger to be totally phony and a turnoff.

[LastRobot]

7. what specifically do you not like?

kstewart33 -

What specifically do you find unlikeable about him? The anger you stated in your earlier post on this thread?

I do not see him as angry at all -- actually very inspiring and positive -- mostly by encouraging people to keep getting more active in the political sphere (he has a better choice of words than I do though).

He used to get everyone's attention by having one of his opening lines include some statement of displeasure towards Bush and Democrats who have been letting Bush get away with his hate-america agenda. Lately he's been dropping those lines as other Democrats are starting to go after Bush (thank god!).

[kstewart33]

11. Ok, here goes

Everytime I've seen a clip of him giving a speech, he reminds me of the newscaster Howard Beale (played by Peter Finch) in the movie "Network" whose signature scream was "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!"

It gets so tiring, so easily. That, coupled with a disasterous Meet the Press appearance, leaves me cringing. He doesn't seem authentic at all, just a guy with a schtick.

The Repubs will kill him if he get the nod. So, respectfully, I'm hoping that he fizzles. But that's just one voter's view.

[kstewart33]

12. Ok, here goes

Everytime I've seen a clip of him giving a speech, he reminds me of the newscaster Howard Beale (played by Peter Finch) in the movie "Network" whose signature scream was "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!"

It gets so tiring, so easily. That, coupled with a disasterous Meet the Press appearance, leaves me cringing. He doesn't seem authentic at all, just a guy with a schtick.

The Repubs will kill him if he get the nod. So, respectfully, I'm hoping that he fizzles. But that's just one voter's view.

[w4rma]

9. Dean is a straight talker who explains his positions. He earns respect.

Massive information dump on Gov. Howard Dean
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=43435&mesg_id=43435&page=

[w4rma]

8. "electability" is code for fundraising ability

Kucinich can't fundraise.
Kerry has to go to DLC big corporations for his funds
Dean out raised both of them in Q2 and is the only candidate *gaining* support.


Dean Raises $7.5 Million in Second Quarter
In the second quarter ending yesterday, 59,000 Americans donated an average of $112 to help boost Governor Howard Dean to the top of the second quarter fundraisers with a total of $7.5 million raised.

Unlike the small, exclusive multi-million dollar fundraisers held in major cities by President Bush over the last week, the Dean campaign saw its numbers surge based on small donations over the Internet—with nearly $3 million raised online in the last week alone. In the second quarter, 45,030 people donated online a total of 51,474 times. The average donation online was $74.14.

“When we said last week during the governor’s announcement that ‘You have the power,’ we had no idea just how much power our supporters had,” said Campaign Manager Joe Trippi. “They are people participating directly in their democracy, and doing whatever they can to help us take our country back—giving $20, $30, or $50. This is People-Powered Howard.”

Second quarter fundraising by the numbers:

Total raised in second quarter: $7,500,000 Total donors (2003 to date): 70,000
Average contribution: $112

First time donors in second quarter: 48,000

Levels of Internet Giving:
Less than $50: 18,422
$50 -- 99: 11,579
$100 -- $249: 11,436
$250 -- $499: 2,379
$500 -- $1,000: 368
$1,000 and up: 129
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000584.html

[Dimsdale]

14. The Media will do to the '04 Dem nominee..

what they did to Gore in '00. Look for Dick Polman to be The Philadelphia Inquirer's point man for this effort. Of course, bashing the Dem candidate will sap all their energy, leaving none to point out the obvious insanity of the Bush Admin.

[poskonig]

15. The Dean Defense Forces will fight it.

You can bank on this.