A Master Politician at Work ( A MUST READ!) on Howard Dean.

[candy331]

Transformative politics is not for sissies.

If you’re to really change political trends, and put bottom rail on top for a generation, you can’t be gentle about it.

You can’t cajole. You can’t seduce. You have to go right for the throat. And you have to be ready for the whole of the old order to come down on you for it.

So let’s be clear about this right now. Love him or hate him, Howard Dean is a master politician.

He’s not really a liberal, you know. He’s what used to be called a Rockefeller Republican, back in the day. He believes that budgets should be balanced, that alliances should be negotiated, that science should be respected, and that it’s possible for government to make life better for people if it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

He made it work in Vermont. He ran to the right of other Democrats there. He balanced budgets. He dealt amicably with Republicans. For his pains he was often called a sell-out by environmentalists, by the state’s left, even by its gay community.

He’s still the same man, but today Rockefeller Republicanism is called extreme liberalism. He’s only on the left because the center has shifted radically to the right. Our assumptions today are far to the right of those our parents held. Most people today believe government is their enemy. Most people are skeptical about science. Most people don’t care about budgets. This is reflected in their choices right down the line, from President to school board.

So how do you effect change?

Well, you don’t do it softly. No great change agent in American political history has worked softly. They have all had enemies. They have chosen these enemies carefully. They have deliberately made themselves the victims of these enemies until events moved their way.

They have often made enemies within their own political party. A minority can only become a majority after it grows a spine and tosses aside the spineless. This is how Republicans did it 40 years ago. It’s what they did to the Rockefeller Republicans.

And it’s what Howard Dean has been doing to the Washington Democrats.

He ran against them in the primaries. They defeated his bid, but they wanted his people

more----

http://www.corante.com/mooreslore/archives/037050print.html

[Straight Shooter]

1. Thanks for posting. Nice to know people can see what Dean is really doing

:thumbsup:

[silverweb]

2. Go, Howard!

Love ya, HoHo! Keep on telling the truth!

:D

[dalloway]

3. excellent article! Kick and recommended! n/t

[calimary]

16. Absolutely kick-ass article!

Kicked! I'd recommend it if I were on this thread a little earlier...

EXCELLENT read. And, I think, spot-on.

[Guaranteed]

4. Man. There is a lot of good writing coming out on the web these

days.

[patricia92243]

5. That picture of Jon Stewart reminds me - what is he saying about Dr. Dean

these days? Haven't seen Daily Show lately.

[LibertyorDeath]

6. I love the way he takes republican talking points & shows them for

the complete bullshit they truly are.

He's also very good at taking what a talking head says and sticking it up their ass while he flashes that great smile.

How could you not love this guy.

He's a hardcore Democrat that actually gives a shit about people.

[AuntiBush]

9. Really! We could ask for a better Dem Leader right now!

[theplutsnw]

7. Hit the nail on the head

[calimary]

17. Welcome to DU!

I couldn't agree more. The doctor delivers another shot of adrenaline!

Welcome! Glad you're here! Now get to work.

[AuntiBush]

8. Liberals Stand for the Same Things...

He’s not really a liberal, you know. He’s what used to be called a Rockefeller Republican, back in the day. He believes that budgets should be balanced, that alliances should be negotiated, that science should be respected, and that it’s possible for government to make life better for people if it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Respectfully, liberals want balance and strongly believe in negotiations, like NOT GOING TO WAR with FIXED FACTS.

Just pointing that out, respectfully.

With that said, Dean Rocks!

[dajoki]

10. dean speaks the truth

thank you for posting this. i've been trying to get this through to certain people for quite awhile now, this will help.

[Cha]

11. "You watch and see."

"No Democrat on Earth has Howard Dean’s political brilliance. No one else has his instincts. He’s not crazy, he’s not angry, he’s not mad. He’s giving people the truth, and those who hear it are responding.

Those who feed and depend on the current system, both Republican and Democratic – they just think it’s hell. Because when the time is right, and the inevitable contradictions between our assumptions and reality occurs, they’re all going to be thrown out of their Washington paradise.

Who will replace them? Those who hang on tightest to Howard Dean’s coattails will replace them.

You watch and see."

Dana Blankenhorn has an interesting way to say this.

Clark is the only one who is thinking about the presidency, so far as I know, who is supporting Dean.

[mandyky]

12. Yep, that part perked me up!

I forget where I originally read this a day or 2 ago, and I was gratified at least one journalist realizes what Dean is up to.

I think Richardson is sort of supportive of Dean. He gave a muddled answer that sounded like fence strattling to me, but he did not suggest Dean was bad for the Party.

[Al-CIAda]

13. As the Rude Pundit put it. "Turn that SOB loose and

lets break a few dishes."

:evilgrin: :nuke: :thumbsup:

[Cha]

14. Feisty

"SOB"! :evilgrin: :nuke: :thumbsup:

[Inland]

15. Yes! Dean isn't a leftist. But he isn't afraid and that looks radical

and makes him stand out.

I always appreciated during the campaign that Dean was took stands, and on the war he was RIGHT. He wasn't my guy for prez, but I can appreciate calling it true.