I am very impressed by this college editorial about Dean....

[madfloridian]

the writer seems to really have a handle on the weaknesses of both parties. Excellent.
http://www.riponcollegedays.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/23/421bc7309e0a8

Who's afraid of Howard Dean?

by Joe Fontaine Columnist
February 23, 2005

SNIP..."Republicans don't call Howard Dean "too liberal" because he's too liberal. They know that he was a fiscally conservative governor who got an 'A' rating from the NRA. And unsympathetic Democrats don't call their new party chair a "loose cannon" because he's a loose cannon. A blunt speaker, sure. But if you want to argue he's some irresponsible, inaccurate bloviator, ask an American soldier whether the capture of Saddam Hussein actually made him safer.

"Democrats have been bullied around this past decade, as much from within as without. We've all heard the hand-wringing, self-pitying post-election proclamations from various Democrats that the party needs to "understand" the red states and modify their views on guns or gays or God to break through. The concept is idiotic for numerous reasons, but my personal peeve is that it actively and absurdly denies that politics is about persuasion. It's like purposefully dropping a grenade on your foot en route to battle- you lose your weapon and cripple yourself before you can even stand and fight...."

"So they're scared of the one man who actually exercised opposition leadership on Iraq- Howard Dean. Republicans are scared of a Democrat who proudly, unashamedly articulates a Democratic viewpoint even if the currents are rushing against him, who understands that his job isn't to passively respond to what the American people may say but to win them to his side.

SNIP.."Yet most Democrats, aware of their principles and more aware than they'll admit of the truth, sincerely but misguidedly wanting to win, listened to the admonitions about how the President was popular and Saddam wasn't. So Georgie got a blank bipartisan check for his boondoggle, and John Kerry- who, I am certain as can be, knew deep down that this was a bad idea from the start- having chucked his party's principles at the outset, left himself to flap in the wind, forced to halfheartedly cheer rationalizations for war that vast majorities of Americans would never have supported before the bombs dropped...."

This columnist, whatever his age, gets it. We need to put forth our case, stand for what we believe, and win them to our side.

[98geoduck]

1. those damn "liberal elite" do have a way with words.

[OneBlueSky]

2. fwiw, Ripon is a notorious bastion of conservative Republicanism . . .

that has always received substantial support from the right . . . it's a training ground for wingers . . .

[madfloridian]

3. So does that mean the article is wrong?

I thought it was pretty perceptive. I was not aware of Ripon's reputation. I also saw a good article at the notorious GOPUSA today, but I would not link to there.

In this case, I thought the column was fair.