For Dean, humility can refuel campaign (Boston Globe)

[cthrumatrix]

For Dean, humility can refuel campaign
By Peter Canellos, Globe Staff, 1/22/2004

GOFFSTOWN, N.H. -- Built on what seems like a mountain of ice, quiet Saint Anselm College has seen a lot of cold air, never more so than in its quadrennial hosting of political debates. Coming in the run-up to the New Hampshire primary, Saint Anselm's debate is often the last place of hope for struggling candidates. There, amid portraits of long-dead prelates, candidates offer their confessions and ask the voters for absolution. Howard Dean is the latest supplicant to climb the frozen hills of Saint Anselm, and his performance at the Democratic debate tonight will be closely watched.

more

Four years later, Bill Clinton's vaunted campaign bus drove into crater after crater. There was the Gennifer Flowers affair. Then came the avoidance of the draft. Clinton told New Hampshire voters "I'm on the ropes" and begged them to put him back in the center ring.

They did.

Howard Dean's anger, like George H.W. Bush's lack of a common touch or Bill Clinton's tendency to trim the truth, may be immutable characteristics. History shows that the flaws exposed in presidential campaigns usually do get carried into the White House. But the surprise is how forgiving voters can be: Candidates just have to ask and they will be delivered.


snip

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/dean/articles/2004/01/22/for_dean_humility_can_refuel_campaign/


Making him the choice of the "common person" who makes mistakes. Seems they did that for Bush and Clinton.

[Guaranteed]

1. Wow...that's one helluvan article.

Dean's still getting so much attention...somehow some kind of good has to come out of this.

If Dean was finished, why would he still be in the news?

[cthrumatrix]

2. people are sending $$$ ...can he rebound..I think so

[andym]

3. Humility and humor will not only reinvigorate him

Showing some humility and self-deprecating humor will not only reinvigorate him, they will give him a serious chance at defeating Bush. Without expressing more self-deprecating humor he will be chewed up by the media and his criticisms of Bush will fall on deaf ears (barring a Bush implosion). What we saw after the speech was just a small sample what was in store for him if he doesn't take this route.

I've been advised this on DU several times, and I finally posted the suggestion on BFA yesterday. It seems others have as well and I'm gratified to hear he'll be on Letterman.

I am not even a supporter, but I wish him well and hope that the nonsense about the scream fades away. It very well might if Dean pokes a little fun at himself.

[retyred]

4. I don't think so

Changing now after all these months will appear as it is, a desperate attempt to re-invent himself the same way gore did.

The media is already using this by dean's own statement of "getting back to the real howard dean" by claiming that what America has seen for the past two years with dean has been nothing more than a lie.

dean made a mistake that cost him dearly, he presented himself as what he thought America wanted and now he's stuck with nowhere to go,
any change in dean now will not be perceived as real by anyone not a die hard dean supporter.

It may take awhile, but I believe dean is done and any change in dean now will just make the inevitable sadder to watch.


retyred in fla
“Good-Night Paul, Wherever You Are”
So I read this book