Ann Richards: Dean set the agenda for this election, the others followed.

[mzmolly]

"I want you to know personally how I reached the conclusion to come here and to speak out... In watching this primary it was Howard Dean that spoke out about the issues; it was Howard Dean that took it to the White House, that said George Bush is wrong; it was Howard Dean that said this war is an error and a mistake; it was Howard Dean who actually talked about medical care and a program to care of American citizens; it was Howard Dean who said what the White House is doing is wrong and we have got to turn them out.

And, lo and behold, all my friends in the Primary looked like they had woken up from a deep sleep, and said: 'You know, what Howard is doing is working! Maybe I had better start speaking out also.' I give Howard Dean full credit for making the other candidates recognize that if we're gonna beat George Bush, we are in a fight for our lives and it is gonna take someone tough to be able to do it!"

It was Howard Dean who began using the internet as a tool to raise money, It was HD who used the internet to organize *meet-ups*, It was Howard Dean who had a major role in taking back the White House regardless which Democrat takes the oath.

No matter what happens in this election, you can thank Howard Dean for the spine transplant he performed on the Democratic Candidates and the organization that he and his campaign put in place.

:hi:

http://newhampshire.deanforamerica.com/redir.php?url=audio/richards.mp3

*disclaimer, I realize Kucinich, Braun, Sharpton spoke out, but Dean did so successfully-that is the difference.

[Melodybe]

1. Ann is right, if it were not for Howard Dean this election really would be

lost. I hope that those that are lucky enough to vote in the primaries remember this. Where were all the other candidates a year ago? As much as I respect all of them, they had their heads up their asses. They were to scared to give us a voice and thanks to Dean we are now getting heard.

[mandyky]

6. You mean the pink tutu crowd?

Yeah, in the drumbeat up to the war, I remember here on DU that that is what everyone one was saying. Now, though, it seems GWB is not the only revisionist when it comes to history. And it wasn't just the war - it was No Child Left Behind, Healthcare, etc. Every time idiot boy the resident does one of his bad tricks, Howard Dean has been one of the first to release a statement, too. If it was not for Howard Dean and the "lower tiered candidates" and all their supporters, God only knows what kinda cockamamey DLC pablum the Washington crowd would be trying to feed to us.

[blm]

10. See post # 9

.

[wtmusic]

2. You go Ann

and also unlike Kucinich, Braun, and Sharpton, Dean was able to build a tiny grassroots movement into a top-tier political campaign using technology.

A Dean presidency bodes well for a future America that is wired and aware.

[Zomby Woof]

3. She lost to Chimpy by running a horrible campaign

Looks like she doesn't see the irony of her Dean endorsement.

[slinkerwink]

5. no, she ran a great campaign, but she didn't know about Rove

and now, we all know about Rove.

[Zomby Woof]

11. It was TERRIBLE

I like Ann, but if she didn't know about Rove, that is more the reason to scoff at her loss.

Ever see clips from the debates between them? Probably not. Please, when you argue with me, you have to have some facts on your side.

It was embarrassing to let that smirking cowboy best her, Rove or no Rove. Karen Hughes wielded more influence on him back then anyway, and that is still no excuse.

[shance]

69. Im from Texas. It was a campaign waged at getting Ann out of office

nothing less.

Much like the double standard between Dems and Republicans now, the same scenario was playing out in Texas. The media, the money, it all supported George Bush and his becoming governor.

With the lack of the truth of Anns achievements coming to surface, she never stood a chance.

[lastliberalintexas]

74. Are you kidding me?

Upset because she endorsed someone you don't like? That's fine, but it doesn't mean you should take pot shots at the woman.

NEWSFLASH- Texas has been a repub state for more than a decade now. Richards only won in 1990 because her opponent was an idiot who wouldn't listen to his handlers. If Claytie had just shut the heck up for the last 2 months of the campaign, he would have been Gov. And Shrub won for a number of factors in 1994- had very little to do with Richards at all. It really wouldn't have mattered who his opponent was. We've had some damn fine people run some damn fine campaigns down here, all the while getting screwed by the national party. And while we were firing the warning shots about the fascists taking over, no one was listening.

You see, we in Texas have been a one media (or really no media) state ruled by insurance and corporate interests for about 15 years now. You can try to blame that on Richards all you want, but it doesn't have a damn thing to do with her.

She's not perfect, but she doesn't deserve such tripe thrown at her just because she supports someone other than your guy.

Sorry to be so snippy, but I actually worked on a state senate campaign in Texas in 1994, and I *know* how and why that year played out like it did, and how hard that year was for Texas Dems. And btw- we worked our asses off! Were you also campaigning down here? Or just tossing arrows from afar?

[mzmolly]

8. Soooo, losing an election negates your opinions? Interesting

will Kucinich be devoid of any value, when he loses?

[Zomby Woof]

14. It does not negate anyone's opinions

This has nothing to do with Kucinich, who is not the subject of this thread. I love that tactic of changing the subject to attack someone who is not even related to the subject at hand, which is useless and dead in the water. Non sequitir at its finest.

My comment was based on all of Dean's major endorsements coming from major losers in the general, primary, and statewide electotal process. I find it humorous and more than a bit heavy with potential irony.

Please, if you are going to argue with me, stay on topic, and at least try to comprehend my point, which went right over your head.

[mzmolly]

23. Gore won the election.

Harkin won numerous elections? I don't know what on earth your talking about.

[dsc]

30. Here is a partial list of Dean endorsers

and their electoral records.

CMB won 7 lost 1.
Harkin won every race he ran in.
Paul Simon only lost Presidental primary in 84.
Al Gore only lost primary in 88.
Howard Metzenbalm won 5 lost 1.
Bill Bradley only lost 2000 primary.
Ann Richards won 3 statewide races lost 1.


Yeah a huge bunch of losers. What was this about having facts on your side?

[beaconess]

52. You don't mention that most of these people are now private citizens

because they lost their last elections

[wtmusic]

56. Dean has never lost an election

all the more reason to respect his opinion!

[beaconess]

62. Is that the new standard?

Then you and Dean must be completely enamoured of the "cockroach" Washington Insiders and their opinions, given that a good many of them have never lost an election, either.

I would take FDR, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Max Cleland and any number of other outstanding leaders who have lost elections over the undefeated in Vermont Howard Dean any day.

[wtmusic]

63. just fighting fire with fire

:-)

[dsc]

58. Oh really

Tell me the election Metzenbalm and Bradley Gore and Harkin lost. And there are well over 30 current members of Congress (those were elected BTW) who have endorsed Dean.

[stickdog]

67. Many of Dean's biggest fans are now OUTSIDE THE ESTABLISHMENT.

That's what gives them the perspective they need to support Dean.

[stickdog]

66. I love the tactics of 1) ridiculing the endorsements of good Democrats

and

2) comparing Howard Dean to absolute perfection instead of the other candidates he is running against -- all of whom have been endorsed by many people who have lost an election or two.

Plus, Gore won the popular vote AND Florida.

[ecstatic]

4. Dean has led, the others have followed

I can't imagine how boring this race would be if it were not for Dean. Nobody would even care. There would be a clear front runner, but not much excitement.

[Jackson Smith]

7. How has John Edwards followed Dean?

Edwards has run a campaign of hope, optimism and positive attitudes--without attacking anyone. And he seems to be doing quite well.

[mzmolly]

12. Dean set the tone.... the others followed.

I won't give individual critiques of the *other* candidates here. ;)

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/home.asp

[Jackson Smith]

16. John Edwards set the positive tone...others followed

[mzmolly]

25. Typically campaigns with out much $$ claim to set a positive tone.

Edwards postive message failed him when he attacked Dean on the Confederate Flag Issue.

I do like his new strategy though. I wish they'd all run a positive campaign.

[Jackson Smith]

31. What Dean said about the Confederate Flag was DEPLORABLE.

And Edwards was OBLIGATED to respond, being he's FROM where Dean was talking about.

[mzmolly]

32. Ann Richards is FROM where Dean was talking about too.

So is Jimmy Carter's family, along with many other Dean supporters. ;)

Funny how no one made it an issue till Sharpton did? But, that's another thread and we've had plenty on that subject already...

[Jackson Smith]

36. Actually I recall Carter saying something about it.

He didn't like what Dean said.

[wtmusic]

39. Read whatever you will into the 'CF' remark

it has officially been pronounced a dead issue.

[Jackson Smith]

42. I didn't bring it up.

Your fellow Dean supporter did.

[beaconess]

44. Oh really? When was the official pronouncement made and by whom?

[wtmusic]

48. By wtmusic

you were there! :-)

[beaconess]

51. I see. Thanks for the clarification.

:-)

[beaconess]

40. Actually, LOTS of people, including the candidates, made it an issue

It only was called an attack when Sharpton did it.

[mzmolly]

45. Sharpton attacked Dean and the others followed. I disagree

that it was only called an *attack* when Sharpton did it, though he did make it into an issue.

Just like he did last week in Iowa. Poor poor Al losing CBC endorsements to Dean. I guess he got even huh :evilgrin:

[beaconess]

60. You're wrong

Edwards objected the day after Dean made the comment, before Al Sharpton said a word about it. And Edwards was the first to criticize Dean's "I'm the only white politician talking about race to white audiences" boast, calling him on it the very next day. So you are incorrect that Sharpton has been the first to call Dean on his shortcomings. It's just that nobody seems to mind when white people do it - it's only when Sharpton raises the very same issues that it suddenly becomes an attack or playing the race card.

But you are correct about one thing: Dean has gotten more CBC endorsements than Sharpton. Too bad it doesn't seem to be doing him much good with black voters, as evidenced by the DC primary, where black voters preferred Sharpton 3-1.

Maybe Dean needs to spend less time running around trying to get the endorsements of black Washington Insiders and work a little harder at trying to actually appeal to black voters. So far, he's not doing a very good job of it.

[beaconess]

50. Oh, please

Edwards had more money than anyone at the beginning. When Dean was still scraping for nickels, Edwards topped the field in fundraising in the first quarter. He had a positive message then and he still has one now - h has been completely consistent. It had nothing to do with money, although under your theory, the fact that Howard Dean now has the most money of all of the candidates could explain his consistently negative message.

[mzmolly]

55. Dean has a *positive* message, Kerry has a positive message, Gephardt has

a postive message. The only difference is John is saying *I have a positive message.* As if he's the only one?

He will do what he's got to do when he enters the big leagues, and it appears that may happen soon.

[beaconess]

61. Ha ha

He's not saying he's the only one with a positive message. He's saying that he has a positive message and is leaving it up to the voters to decide who everyone compares

This is in stark contrast to Howard Dean, who has been strutting around saying "I'm the ONLY one doing this," and "I'm the only one doing that," which, in most cases isn't even true, but also assumes that the voters cannot judge for themselves what the other candidates are doing.

It's really amusog how you criticize Edwards for simply saying what he's doing, as if he's bashing the other candidates by doing so, but seem to have no problem with Howard Dean not only describing what he's doing but insisting that he's the only one doing it.

[Zomby Woof]

15. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Jackson Smith]

17. Thanks.

[Melodybe]

28. He quoted Dean tonight at his Davenport rally

he refered to Dean as one of his competitors but still quoted him.

Dean has a campaign of hope too. He was the first one to say a gosh darn thing that mattered as far as I am concerned. Edwards was my first choice, when I saw him on the daily show. I was so glad to see him kind of, sort of disagreeing with Bu$h. I went to his website and it was nothing but terrorism this and terrorism that. Needless to say I was disappointed. I e-mailed and told him that the candidate that has the guts to speak out against all the lies that Bu$h is telling will do well. Then I saw him on CNN talking terrorism and what not, and I got disinterested.

Then I heard about Dean, I said "if only he was being taken seriously I could really get into this campaign." Well that is what happened and now no matter who the dem is I have been inspired to register people to vote, to go from door to door and ask people I don't know to vote democrat. You can thank Dr. Dean for waking me up politically, now we will have more voters than last time regardless.

[blm]

9. Ann must not read Joe Conason.

Kerry Shows Courage In Challenging Bush
Thursday, August 8, 2002 By: Joe Conason

New York Observer

>>>>>>
But it was John Kerry who delivered the most interesting, substantive and challenging message. His subject was George W. Bush's shortcomings as a world leader. The New York Times reported that Mr. Kerry "offered a long attack on Mr. Bush's foreign policy," although the paper gave short shrift to the details in the Senator''s speech. What he began to articulate was a Democratic critique of this administration''s blunt and myopic unilateralism, and a vision that restores international alliances to the center of American diplomacy.

He agrees with the objective of removing Saddam Hussein, but objected to the vague plans for what will replace the Iraqi dictatorship. He called the latest arms treaty with Russia a "cosmetic" one that inadequately safeguards decommissioned weapons. He denounced the "Cold War" approach to North Korea that has undone the progress achieved by the Clinton administration. He expressed scorn for the administration''s disengagement from the Middle East crisis before Sept. 11.

>>>>>>>

He is, however, no naïïve internationalist who abhors military force. As he has done before, Mr. Kerry wondered aloud why the President didn't muster sufficient firepower in Afghanistan to destroy Al Qaeda''s army when the chance arose at Tora Bora.
>>>>>>

There is, however, at least one benefit for Mr. Kerry in speaking out on those faraway places and problems. While his rivals sound as if they''re campaigning for the offices they already occupy, he sounds as if he is running for President.
>>>>>>
Whether Mr. Kerry can engage the electorate in a discussion of America''s global responsibilities is far from certain. His own dispassionate style may hinder him. Yet he deserves great credit for reclaiming international leadership for his party when others cannot or will not.

***********************

In July 2002, Howard Dean sided with Bush over Kerry who for months had hammered Bush on his strategy at Tora Bora and its failures that allowed Bin Laden and most of Al Qaeda to escape. It was Dems like Dean who kept Bush's poll numbers up by agreeing with his leadership in the war on terror. Of course, that was BEFORE he saw the antiwar crowds grow.


 MR. RUSSERT: Do you believe the military operation in Afghanistan has been successful?
       
       GOV. DEAN: Yes, I do, and I support the president in that military operation.
       
       MR. RUSSERT: The battle of Tora Bora was successful?
       
       GOV. DEAN: I’ve seen others criticize the president. I think it’s very easy to second-guess the
       commander-in-chief at a time of war. I don’t choose to engage in doing that.

[mandyky]

13. She probably reads Molly Ivins,

since they're from the same neck of the woods.

[mzmolly]

21. Last time I checked,

Tora Bora and Afghanistan were not issues in this campaign.

[blm]

33. Bin Laden uncaptured and al Qaeda free is NOT an issue in the campaign?

No wonder the Fire Fighters are with Kerry and not Dean.

I am flabbergasted by your comment.

[mzmolly]

35. Sorry, have u missed the many Dean comments on Bin Laden missing?

Flabbergasted? That makes two of us. But I am continually flabbergasted by things I read here.

[blm]

71. Then it IS an issue, isn't it?

Or is it only an issue when Dean brings it up?

[wtmusic]

34. Just how did Dean 'side' with Bush?

Translation: Very easy to criticize an unsuccessful operation with 20/20 hindsight (kind of like what Kerry was doing).

[blm]

70. No. He has also said Bush was successful, and doing a great job

on the war on terror in other comments around that time.

Besides, it was Kerry who broke the word about Tora Bora when Rumsfeld was trying to keep it from the press. Kerry had been doing the heavy lifting for months to get the word out while the press tried to mute him.

To spin this into praise for Dean and a bash to Kerry is sadly laughable.

[creativelcro]

18. Absolutely.. Look at Kerry... He's always been two steps behind

Dean, trying to emulate him. he even used the f* word trying to look angry...

[Jackson Smith]

19. Yes, Kerry definitely got the f-bomb bounce!

[sandnsea]

20. "We ought not criticize the President"

Yeah right, Ann, it was Howard Dean. Maybe some people just can't hear anything but screaming. I heard, sorry she didn't. :shrug:

[mzmolly]

22. The quote you noted was in regard to Afghanistan. Dean supported

that war.

Dean will go down in history as the man who changed this campaign forever, regardless.

Some of you won't like that, but it's fact.

[blm]

37. No. His deceptions on his antiwar stance will be recorded for history.

And how he demagogued the issue to advance his candidacy.

Careful examination of all his statements will lead historians to conclude that he played the oldest trick in the book.

[mzmolly]

49. LOL, this is humerous

Thanks.

I have two words. *Simon says* ring a bell? ;)

[sandnsea]

38. Kerry was criticizing the President at the time

So I guess Dean was too chickenshit or didn't know how an effective military campaign ought to be run in the first place.

Yeah, America is going to vote for him. Stop the world and let me off.

[wtmusic]

43. Yeah, Dean is a chickenshit

A chickenshit brave enough to stand up and say the war in Iraq is wrong. Where does that put Kerry?

[mzmolly]

53. Sorry, is this thread about Dean being the only one to criticize Bush on

anything? Nope, try reading it again. :hi:

[sandnsea]

64. Yes

That's exactly what Ann Richards said. Howard Dean did it all. :eyes:

[wtmusic]

65. No, she said he *started* it all

:eyes:

[stickdog]

68. We lived through the last few years. We were paying attention. We know

what happened.

For whatever reason, Dean stood up to Bush.

For whatever reason, Kerry stood down.

[quaker bill]

24. Ann is correct on this one.

Dean has set the pace so far. I expect that he will continue to.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

26. Starting tomorrow.

[mzmolly]

29. I hope you guys are right...

:hi:

[mitchum]

27. She couldn't convince me to buy those snack chips she was shilling

for (and she's not going to get me to buy this)

[wtmusic]

46. good one

:-)

[gulliver]

41. Kudos. But the presidency is not an award.

It goes to the person who can best fill the job, not the person who has the best ideas or who says something first.

All honor to Dean for being fearless in his attacks on Bush and for putting the Internet to use. But that doesn't mean he just gets the presidency as a reward. Others spoke out against Bush too. The one who can best beat Bush is the one who should be the nominee.

[mzmolly]

47. Who suggested Dean should be *awarded* the Presidency.

I just think people should vote for the original myself :)

[wtmusic]

54. Self contradictory

'The presidency...goes to the person who can best fill the job."

vs.

'The one who can best beat Bush is the one who should be the nominee."

Not one and the same. Which is it?

[mzmolly]

57. Well all, out for the night.

Carry on :hi:

[arewethereyet]

59. Edwards didn't and look what it did for him !

And I'd have to respectfully disagree with the "spine transplant" credit. This was hardly unique to him. Yelling and pounding fists maybe...

[cthrumatrix]

72. she see's more than his message...it's the organization and excitement

he has brought nationally...which is what it will take to win. We will see.

[arewethereyet]

75. apparantly that excitement is wanning

and predictably so. People can be hopeful far longer than they can be riled up.

Edwards opted for hope. Dean used rhetoric about hope but had none.

There is a clear difference and the difference is showing across all levels.

[sendero]

73. I will happily...

... vote for anyone who isn't a current member of Congress. Because many of them *still* don't have a spine.

If a member of Congress gets the nomination, I'll vote for them. But there will be no "happily". They are part of the problem, so I have a real hard time seeing them as part of the solution.

And, as a resident of Texas, I'd say that Ann has nailed it yet again.