'Out of the Mainstream? Hardly ' -Dean answers WP editorial

[Rose Siding]

By Howard Dean
Sunday, December 21, 2003

The Post's Dec. 18 editorial discussing my recent foreign policy speech <"Beyond the Mainstream"> badly misrepresents both my position and the central argument in the coming election on how best to strengthen America's security.

To start: The Post repeatedly misstates my views. For example, I support missile defense efforts that make us more secure; I oppose deployment of any system not yet proven to work. I favor active talks with North Korea, backed by the threat of force, rather than a stubborn refusal to engage that has allowed the situation to become more dangerous by the day. And the role I support for the National Guard is hardly "radical"; it was endorsed by the bipartisan Hart-Rudman commission and in fact is enshrined in our Constitution (Section 8, Clause 15).

More important, The Post's editorial comes close to equating the Bush administration's foreign policy -- including its signature doctrine of "preemptive war" -- with the American foreign policy mainstream. In fact, the Bush agenda represents a radical departure from decades of bipartisan consensus on the appropriate use of U.S. power and our leadership in the world community.

From its derisive treatment of allies to its rejection of important global agreements, this administration has favored a go-it-alone approach and a determination to use force as its weapon of first resort. Its approach has alienated friends and bolstered foes. Its agenda isolates the United States, placing responsibility for all the world's problems in our hands, and runs counter to America's traditions as a republic.
By contrast, my national security policy .................more

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A16656-2003Dec19?language=printer

[pasadenaboy]

1. Good

that editorial was ridiculous. Anyone who opposed the war was "out of the mainstream" The WP editiorial page is fighting with the Washington Times to see who can be more conservative. Its sad and pathetic.

[Rose Siding]

2. His close really hammers them

snip>
A critical presidential campaign is now underway. Americans face a choice between two very different views of our role in the world. My agenda returns security policy to its fundamental course: protecting Americans and advancing our values and interests -- democracy, freedom, opportunity and peace -- through effective partnerships and global leadership, as well as military strength.

The current administration strays wildly from this course and from the time-honored manner of pursuing it. In the end, I believe it will be clear who is in the mainstream and who is swimming against the tide of history.

WOO HOO- Taking it to 'em :bounce:

[KaraokeKarlton]

7. He's known for responding like this to reporters who are assholes

If they're writing totally outlandish and ridiculous stuff and he reads it, he will not hesitate to let them know about it. One reporter insinuated that he didn't really do much for gay rights in Vermont. Dean chewed him a new asshole right there on the spot. He won't sit back and be "Gored".

[regnaD kciN]

8. Which, of course, means....

...that we will soon be seeing this letter held up as an example of "Dean's anger problem."

:eyes:

(No, I don't mean by the news media or Republican campaign hacks. I mean by Dean opponents here on DU, for whom Howard can do no right...)

[madfloridian]

12. Ha, you are probably right.

:hi:
Sadly, I am afraid you are right.

[AngleOfMyDangle]

31. Very

Sadly..

[frustrated_lefty]

3. That was a homerun.

Thank you, Howard.

[KaraokeKarlton]

4. Dean is such a great writer

as I've said before, Dean writes his own speeches. Some here don't believe that, but he does. He's an extremely intelligent man and a great writer. He doesn't need a speechwriter.

[Melodybe]

21. His Paine essay is great. The campaing sent us a bunch to hand out.

I finally got a chance to read one and THEN, after reading and thinking that it was a good essay, I noticed that it was written by Dean himself. Lets see Chimpy try to write his own stuff, I mean honestly, Condeliza is constantly reading the TelePrompTer over his should during speeches. Look for it, it is pretty funny. Anyhoo, Dean rulZ!

[babzilla]

5. brilliant, impressive, how does he do it?

Dean just cranked out this beautiful essay in response to an editorial that was published 2 days ago? What a mighty good man.

[DFLforever]

16. Perhaps because he was responding re: a speech HE had just given

perhaps because he was writing about HIS own ideas.
perhaps because his campaign is geared to rapid response.
perhaps because his training enables him to work very long days.

[babzilla]

18. yup

perhaps that is how he does it.

Pick your prize.

[madfloridian]

6. Excellent job, Dr. Dean.

He did a good job on that. The misquoting and misrepresentation have gone on enough.

[BootinUp]

9. Nice statement by Dean

I haven't read the article he was talking about yet...

[Rose Siding]

13. A link to the Editorial to which he is responding:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9995-2003Dec17.html

[babzilla]

14. here it is

WP: lame as they ever were. Oh Dr. Dean, you might be right about the Iraq war, but don't forget for a minute that he gassed his own people and tried to kill shrubs dad, ugh.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9995-2003Dec17.html

It is Mr. Dean's position on Iraq, however, that would be hardest to defend in a general election campaign. Many will agree with the candidate that "the administration launched the war in the wrong way, at the wrong time, with inadequate planning, insufficient help and at unbelievable cost." But most Americans understand Saddam Hussein for what he was: a brutal dictator who stockpiled and used weapons of mass destruction, who plotted to seize oil supplies on which the United States depends, who hated the United States and once sought to assassinate a former president; whose continuing hold on power forced thousands of American troops to remain in the Persian Gulf region for a decade; who even in the months before his overthrow signed a deal to buy North Korean missiles he could have aimed at U.S. bases. The argument that this tyrant was not a danger to the United States is not just unfounded but ludicrous.

[absyntheNsugar]

10. Democrats fighting back is a breath of fresh air!

Nice to see it!

[madfloridian]

11. Yes, it is refreshing and heartwarming.

:hi:
We have taken it all for so long, and we never spoke out. It is a good feeling.

[ibegurpard]

15. Good for Dean

I hope to God more Democrats have learned the lesson of standing by and thinking they are above responding to scurrilous criticism.

[AngleOfMyDangle]

28. Here

Here!

[RetroLounge]

17. Give 'em Hell Howard!

Nice rebuttal...

Good to see a Dem take it to them!

[mzmolly]

19. Wow!

Thank you DR. :toast:

[madfloridian]

20. I am glad he keeps hammering home this part.

SNIP..."From its derisive treatment of allies to its rejection of important global agreements, this administration has favored a go-it-alone approach and a determination to use force as its weapon of first resort. Its approach has alienated friends and bolstered foes. Its agenda isolates the United States, placing responsibility for all the world's problems in our hands, and runs counter to America's traditions as a republic....."

[AngleOfMyDangle]

30. Tru

However all the worlds problems have always been in our hands bands trans slams!

[tsipple]

22. How It's Done

What's really great about this letter is that it runs in the Sunday edition, and that's where it'll get widely read.

I particularly love the bit where Dean quotes "chapter and verse" of the United States Constitution.

[sandnsea]

23. Answers?

1. A year ago Mr. Dean told a television audience that "there's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the United States and to our allies," but last weekend he declared that "I never said Saddam was a danger to the United States." (Where'd he answer this?)

2. Mr. Dean has at times argued that the United States must remain engaged to bring democracy to Iraq, yet the word is conspicuously omitted from the formula of "stable self-government" he now proposes. (Where'd he answer this? What's his view of the future of Iraq?)

3. Mr. Dean says he would end all funding for missile defense. (People here were ecstatic about Dean ending missile defense. Which is it for sure?)

4. His speech suggests a significant retreat by the United States from the promotion of its interests and values in the world. Mr. Edwards laid out a detailed and ambitious plan to prevent the spread of dangerous nuclear materials; Mr. Clark is proposing a new Atlantic Charter under which the United States would build an alliance to take on the transformation of the Middle East, among other initiatives. (Where'd he answer this and what is his ME plan?)


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9995-2003Dec17.html

[tsipple]

24. A Couple Points

I know, sandnsea, that you're not presently a fan of Dr. Dean and his candidacy and that you still support John Kerry for the Democratic nomination. I know also that most of your posts to DU are criticisms of Dr. Dean, since apparently you feel that that helps the candidate you support. Personally I find that unfortunate, but that's your call certainly.

I would just hope that you can acknowledge when Governor Dean does a good job. I've certainly lauded those occasions when Senator Kerry does well in his campaign, such as his winning the Shaheen endorsement, and I'm happy to do so again on those occasions.

This is one of those clear occasions for Dean. In a letter of this sort, where you don't get unlimited space, Dean addresses as many of the Washington Post editorial's criticisms as he can, and he does so clearly, with conviction, and forthrightly.

I know also that the questions you raise have been repeatedly and thoroughly hashed out in other threads, so I'm not sure what the point is in raising them -- again -- here. The topic of this thread is the Washington Post letter that Dean had published in the Sunday edition.

Part of being persuasive is acknowledging when the person you don't like the best does well. That's an important lesson in politics, and that's an important lesson here at DU I think.

[sandnsea]

25. Did he answer the criticisms?

No. A gaga-fest doesn't make this a fabulous editorial answering the hard questions presented in the previous article. So I ask again, where are the answers?

I want to beat Bush and I want the best President we can get. Dean can't do either. Kerry could fall over dead tomorrow and I wouldn't change my opinion on Dean one iota.

[tsipple]

26. Not Terribly Persuasive

Kerry could fall over dead tomorrow and I wouldn't change my opinion on Dean one iota.

That's really an extremist point of view, isn't it? I appreciate your candor, but it doesn't seem to indicate open mindedness and/or rational thought.

Personally, in the opposite case (God forbid), I'd consider Senator Kerry very seriously as my first choice.

[sandnsea]

27. Still no questions answered

I guess I'm not surprised. No question about Dean ever gets answered with anything except Kerry Kerry Kerry.

[tsipple]

29. Not Here, No

I don't think you'll find tangents like this one addressed in this thread. Elsewhere lots of times, though. That DU search function is handy for that if you haven't found it yet.

It gets kind of monotonous otherwise answering the same questions over and over in scores of different threads. Hope you're not offended.

[sandnsea]

33. "Dean answers WP Editorial"

There's no other place to search than in the piece Dean wrote. I pulled out 4 questions from the original editorial, that he is supposedly answering, and asked someone to point out the answers. Nobody can because they aren't there. They never are. I would find that over and over in scores of threads.

[frustrated_lefty]

32. I could reply, but I won't.

Your posting history indicates you aren't after answers, you just want to make points. Have fun.

[JNelson6563]

36. you couldn't be more right friend

not long ago there was a big slug-fest re: IRW and B/L. Hammering on the same questions dozens of times. Finally presented with the differences they themsleves highlighted in the resolutions but dismissed out of hand within that same thread these answeres were demanded repeatedly.

Silence. End of conversation. It was a most revealing moment.

"Searching for answers" my eye. Begging for brawl more like it.

Julie

[deminflorida]

34. Really Missle Defense....

Does Howard Dean have any idea what that costs...it would be money better spent on improving our intelligence community, i.e. adding additional linguist to the military, or going towards Home Land Security in order to protect the country from the people that are acutally trying to kill us. Howard Dean has no better grasp than George Bush does when it comes to the clear and present danger.

"For example, I support missile defense efforts that make us more secure; I oppose deployment of any system not yet proven to work."

[sandnsea]

35. There's 2 programs

There's the Star Wars space missile defense. Then there's a different missile defense program that would be on ships or otherwise situated, and not in space. This phase of the technology is further along, I think, then the Star Wars version. Kerry supports this more limited missile defense. I haven't seen anything clear from Clark, except he knows we have to discuss anything of this nature thoroughly with our allies.

[maddezmom]

37. good for HD, but we still have a choice

<<<A critical presidential campaign is now underway. Americans face a choice between two very different views of our role in the world. My agenda returns security policy to its fundamental course: protecting Americans and advancing our values and interests -- democracy, freedom, opportunity and peace -- through effective partnerships and global leadership, as well as military strength.>>>

However, we still have more than 2 choices.

[ldoolin]

38. kick

nt

[kayob1]

39. Great article

Thanks for posting.

[Hoppin_Mad]

40. Thank you, 'Doctor President' ! (damn that sounds good ;-) =eom=

[WilliamPitt]

41. Excellent work