Hope for Dean

[Casandra]

I know Dean said that if he were to win the DNC post, he wouldn't run for Pres in '08. With the field looking as it does <bleak>, I am wondering if he might step down in time to make another run. He's one of a very 'few Democrats' left. As I look around, I don't see anyone with Dean's charisma, character and stature, that could even get close to him. I just don't see Kerry or Gore running again. At this point, they might think they are running, but I don't see it happening in the 'real world'. I can hope....for Dean to step forward again, and I do!

[pstans]

1. Someone will emerge for 08

Dean's goal when running for President was to change the way the Government works and give the power back to the people. I think, he thinks he can better accomplish this as DNC Chair rather than as President. Dean's power is better suited for the DNC Chair. As DNC Chair, he will have Democrats stand up for the Democratic ideals the nation was founded up. He will get the word out everywhere and heads will start to turn towards our side.

[rogue_bandit]

2. Uniting Dems going to be difficult

There is so much corruption (witness Lieberman et al) that Dean will have a difficult time working around it, but I have great faith that he can. He got slammed once, I don't think it will be so easy this time around.

Dean is too conservative for my tastes but I supported him anyway. At least he *seems* willing to listen to the grassroots. Time will tell.

A lot of the more aggressive Dem campaign workers where I live only hope for, don't expect, an improved chance at the next election. I pray Dean will turn that around.

[Casandra]

4. The way I see it

We cannot and we WILL NOT put our party back into power until we stand up and show the people the differences between the 2 parties. Let the people decide. Let the people decide what they want for their country. As long as we keep cozying with the center, we are not showing a clear choice between the 2 parties. Someone with a lot of courage needs to stand up, call him/herself a liberal and remind the people what liberal means! Loud and clear!!! Let the people see the difference, let them have a choice this time!

[Rowdyboy]

3. Howard Dean strikes me as a man who keeps his commitments

He is committed to running the Democratic party. He is committed to not run for president in 2008. I trust him and expect he'll keep his word because thats what honorable people do and Dean is a man of enormous integrity. Thats why so many people respect him.

As to the "weak" field you foresee, I have to disagree.

We have John Edwards, Wes Clark, and Russ Feingold as likely to run with Bill Richardson, Hillary Clinton, Evan Bayh, Al Gore, John Kerry and Tom Vilsack as possibilities. Doesn't sound very "weak" to me.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. I agree

I think Dean is serious when he says he won't run in 2008. I think he's more committed to helping with grassroot efforts and helping get more democrats in local offices. I think there are quite a few people who will run in 2008. It's too early to think about it now (because of next year's elections) but there are still some good canidates. And who knows who else will pop up for 2008 elections. Not long ago someone from a Jacksonville, Florida paper asked my governor (I'm in Tennessee) was asking him about running. He said he wasn't interested but anything could happen. :)

[mermaid]

5. What About BARACK OBAMA???? n/t

[depakid]

8. What about him?

He just voted for tort deform.... some leader he is....

[FreedomAngel82]

15. I think Obama

isn't a good canidate for president. Not now anyways. He still has some proving to do and I don't like some bills he's voted for recently. Like when he questioned Rice but then voted for her anyways. :shrug: He's just got in to the Senate. I think he has his seat to worry about more then running for president.

[depakid]

6. I think Dean made a mistake

The DNC is hopelessly divided and as one poster pointed out- corrupt. There's not much chance of doing a spinal transplant among many of the COWARDS who are currently in positions of power in the party. They stand for nothing- and they haven't shown themsleves capable of personal integrity much less party unity.

Dean will rue the day he got involved with these types. They'll back stab him just like they do everyone else.

I hope I'm wrong- but every day- I see more and more evidence of their cowardice. Every vote that comes up- every press release I hear from the like of Lieberann, Biden- you name the pol, just reinforces that belief.

[Igotsunshine]

7. Dean's charisma, character and stature . . .

are traits fully embodied in the next president of the US, Senator Hillary Clinton. And I might add, she isn't going to blow a 20 point lead on her way to the nomination. Dean couldn't close the deal with the average democrat. He's a great guy, smart as hell, but he bungled his campaign in the end. You can bet the farm that Senator Clinton will not stumble or fumble her lead the way Dean did.

[depakid]

9. Yep she sure showed those

in voting for the bankruptcy bill last time around- even though she of all people knows that it's a massive giveaway to the credit card companies (who overwhelmingly support Republicans) at the expense of single moms and those with massive medical debts.

She showed lots of character there....

[Igotsunshine]

10. She is a bit more to the middle than I would like . . .

but I think her good points overwhelm her bad. No politician is perfect.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Igotsunshine!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[napi21]

11. Yes, there was strong division within the DNC, but I think HD will

fix that. Like it or not, the old story of divide and conquer is quite real. That's exactly what the Pubs have done to the Dems. You remember the song United we stand, divided we fall? It should become our theme song! I think Howard will convince the Party leaders that it has to be united! We need to unite too. There will always be variations of strength on our opinions, and extremes on both ends, but we have to stop "eating our own"! I don't like Leiberman either, but he really is still a Dem (unlike Zell!), and whwen votes get down to the wire, I believe he is a Dem at heart.

Heck, we feel about him the way the Pubs feel about McCain.

[FreedomAngel82]

16. I hope you're right

Hopefully Dean is working on this and will work on it. I think if Liberman really is a democrat he needs to prove it. He's kissing up to the republicans too much. It's fine to work with them on things (its good to be bi-partisian) but on voting for certain issues he needs to stay with his party or leave.

[Kahuna]

12. "Bleak?" I don't think the potential field is bleak at all...

Potential contenders are, General Clark, Hillary Clinton (who probably would do better in the primaries that Dean did), Mark Warner (who I KNOW will do better than Dean did), Bill Richardson, Evan Bayh, possibly The Great One, Al Gore and John Kerry. I would hardly call this a "bleak" field of candidates.

[FreedomAngel82]

17. Who's the great one??

[Kahuna]

18. Sorry. I didn't type that right..

should be, Al, "The Great One" Gore.

[napi21]

19. Sure isn't Gore or Kerry!

I don't think we know who the great one is yet.

I can tell you, right now, I really like Joe Biden. He tough, almost always makes sense with this arguments, and appears to be a good guy. My only problen is that he is a Senator, and that never works well in a general election!