Congratulations to Kerry, Edwards, and note to all from a Deaner

[fabius]

First of all, I'm obviously disappointed, but it's far from over yet. As I was saying a month ago, if Kerry and Edwards are that good, let's see them actually win an election. Well, they did. An absolutely impressive showing.

Although Howard Dean and all of us must feel somewhat let down, this is what democracy is all about. I believe my candidate is the best and so do all of you. The press and pundits have their favorites. They buzz and bloviate and talk about the "big MO" and everybody gets their 15 minutes of fame.

Despite all of that the PEOPLE actually decide this thing. That is the beauty of it. That's why we're different from Republicans.

In 2000, Bush* was the choice of the corporate machine. This was obvious from the word Go. The honorable Republican just got smeared and creamed. No democracy there.

In 2000, Gore didn't have a big fight because he was our heir apparent. People got kinda bored with the whole thing. Gore got complacent, the press got stupid.

Nobody's going to call this Democratic nomination but the people. No kingmakers, no pundits, no news anchors. That feels good. Another thing, whoever wins, whether my candidate Howard Dean or another Democrat, will be incredibly tough and ready to beat Bush*.

Below is one of my favorite recent posts from Counterspin, earlier today:

from http://counterspin.blogspot.com/


STALKING HORSE: Iowa continues to confound. It may be that Gov. Howard Dean, MD will come in as low as fourth in Iowa.

It may also be that, Gov. Howard Dean, MD has performed a medical miracle: He's performed a successful spine transplant on the Democratic candidates.

Essentially, Dean was a stalking horse for rank and file Democratic party anger at the national party for laying down on the job, and letting Bush get away with (metaphorical) murder.

He's also taken most of the bullets from the media and the Republicans. He's like a great fullback, taking out the middle linebacker to let the all-pro tailback spring through the line, and run to daylight.

If Dean is as tough as I think he is, he will come back stronger than before. If not, at least he has shown the way. After 25 years in the wilderness (sorry, for me Clinton's corporate funded campaigns count as partial wilderness), Howard Dean, Joe Trippi and the "Deaniacs" have shown that we can be proud to stand up as liberals and Democrats.

To any Democratic candidate who wins the nomination, you have my full physical and financial support. To all Dean supporters, keep the faith. You are right. To all other Democrats, may the best candidate win and let's give the BFEE hell!

[msanger]

1. thanks for a good posting

it will be interesting to see what the Dean campaign does, how it reacts to tonights events.

I love the idea of Dean having given the other candidates a spine transplant. My only concern is over or not the transpant will stick.

[wtmusic]

3. 'Whether or not the transplant will stick'

well put.

[Pallas180]

2. Dean absolutely reminded them what Democrats are supposed to be.

He's done a good job!

[AP]

6. Third-place finishers?

Dean had a ton of money, the media attention, supporters, and no tax plan to help the middle class, hostility towards good Democrats, and messed up priorities (he thinks Iraq War is more important than feeling your economic pain, as does George Bush).

[Guaranteed]

4. Man, I'm a Dean supporter- but this is over.

What these frickin' Iowan Democrats told us tonight is that they don't want to fight. They want a "safe" candidate LOL! that voted similarly to Bush. Since they're gonna put a candidate up there that's at least similar to him, they figure that Bush'll go easy on him. Maybe only give him 20 lashes instead of 40. You know, it's less embarassing this way. They don't have to say "Yeah, I supported that loser Dean," when he was labeled a liberal early on. Now they get to say, "Yeah, I supported that loser Kerry," or Edwards, which somehow sounds better. Those two names are easier to shrug off like some kind of goofy sit-com hijinx. "HA ha! What were we thinking anyway? HA ha! <shake head>"

[glitch]

5. Very well said, thank you. nt

[stevebreeze]

7. Dean has also put together a great organization.

Iowa is not a great predictor of electoral success. Deans organizing, I am certain, will mean more in other states. Keep up the hard work and do not get discouraged, Even if your candidate or mine do not win the nomination, these efforts will help the nominee in Nov.
:kick: