Thank God for Howard Dean......

[Wetzelbill]

Dean is a few people down on my preferred lists of candidates, but he won me over long ago. I can be quite critical of him - and other candidates - but Dr. Dean has always had my respect. When most of the Dem party were rolling over like spineless invertebrates Howard Dean was calling Bush out for a fight. I like how the guy rolls up his sleeves and just lets 'er rip. He helped bring honor back to a party that was taking a beating with little conviction to fight back. He gave me hope. I will forever be indebted to Dean for that. Sometimes he almost reels my vote in, yet I just prefer Kucinich, Edwards and Kerry to him, but not by much. He's a great candidate and would make a great president.

I've just been sick over the treatment he's gotten this last week over his 3rd place Iowa finish and concession speech. Totally sick. I'm not prepared to write Dean off, but the media took a well-meaning, spirited concession speech he made to his supporters out of love and appreciation and made him a national joke. I feel awful. Howard Dean didn't deserve to be treated like that. It will be tough to come back from and, either way, I wish Dean and his supporters the best of luck. I'll take a guy with Dean's passion in my trench anyway. At least he has a pulse. Dean and Kucinich are the lifeblood and heart of the Democratic party, whether the status quo agrees or not. I hope, no matter what happens, that Dean stays in politics and public service. We need him.

[JNelson6563]

1. Wow, quite a post

And considering you are uncommitted to a particular candidate it smacks suspiciously of objectivity. A rare quality hereabouts these days. Thanks for taking the time to post these thoughts. This Dean supporter appreciates it.

:toast: To overthrowing the fascist bastards in DC!!

Julie

[Wetzelbill]

6. actually I will be voting for Kucinich, however......

I appreciate Dean and his contributions to our party.

[JNelson6563]

29. Then it's an even better post!

:toast:

[mandyky]

2. Thank you very much

for your post. Coming from someone who isn't a Dean supporter feels esp good.

[wtmusic]

3. Dean is within 3 pts of Kerry in NH

This 'scream' issue hasn't shown much stamina, even with the media overkill.

He deserved to get hammered on 'the scream', for three reasons: 1)it was unbecoming of a president, 2) he wasted an excellent opportunity to make a speech to a national audience, and 3) it was an insincere attempt to mask his disappointment at a thoroughly disappointing third-place finish.

That said--Dean has so many great things going for him it will soon be all but irrelevant. Dean is a novice to the national stage and is still learning. His public persona will only improve.

From a personal standpoint, on issues, I wouldn't even consider another candidate.

[Ripley]

4. The media has a 2 day memory.

The YYYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH speech will be history after NH vote.

Yes, Dean was calling Bush out for a fight early and consistently. While the others jumped on the bandwagon recently, where were they last year? It will all come down to who gets out and votes. The big chunk of people who don't vote because they think they parties are too much a like to make a difference by voting need to see a difference in the debate with Smirky. How many people watched Gore concede and play nice with Georgie in those 2000 debates? That's why people flew to Nader or sat home. Do you really think Kerry or Edwards will act differently than Gore did in the final weeks of October?

We need a clear difference and Kucininch would be the most glaring opposite to Smirk, but sadly he just isn't viable at this time.

[opihimoimoi]

5. The media and others were just waiting for anything close to a gaffe

for them to pounce on Dean.

They don t get it. Dean is diff. das why he is so popular among the young ones. He can "see" and they cannot. So they hurt him.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. Come, let us drink some truth serum.

:thumbsup:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

7. well said

I would add that is if this is all they can do against Dean, try to make him look like a fool - then the media are belying their whole initial point - that he is "unelectable against Bush on the issues". It is proof positive that Dean's ideas -and drive- have weight, and trouble those interests that would revel in him appearing to be a fool.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

9. I was never impressed by him. Besides, his record as Governor....

is terribly conservative for a Democrat.

:eyes:

[Wetzelbill]

15. oh his record is, I still believe he's a good candidate though

As is Clark. I really like the General too.

[bigtree]

10. Gov. Dean has added a great deal to the debate

and has helped to make a strong opening case against Bush.

Good luck and best wishes for your candidate!

[Melodybe]

11. here here, go Dean!

[Snivi Yllom]

12. he may yell he may get angry

But he has not flip flopped or lamely tried to defend his record.

[progressivebydesign]

33. Good point.. but I have yet to see Dean angry n/t

[annxburns]

13. You know I do too ...

... I have always been sort of ABD, but I have been stunned and ashamed of our media and the way they have treated him. I like him a hell of a lot more now and will support him full-heartedly if he is the nominee. I just donated $100 to his campaign and will pray for him tonight that he is wins the primary tomorrow.

I am also boycotting FOX, Imus, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and Jay Leno from now on. Screw them.

[progressivebydesign]

35. You're the coolest!

:grouphug: Thanks from a Dean supporter!

[LizW]

14. Great post

I understand what you're feeling.

[Poseidon]

16. Here's what I think:

I am impressed with Howard Dean. My concern is whether or not he is capable of prosecuting the war on terror. I don't have this concern when I look at John Kerry or Wesley Clark, veterans both.

[trogdor]

17. I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Anything is better than the Bush approach of using the idea of a war on terror to do stupid shit like invade Iraq that he'd otherwise never get away with, while allowing the people who really did the WTC/Pentagon to get away.

We have the best generals in the world. A ten year old with good intentions can do better than Bush merely by listening to them.

[Poseidon]

18. I know, man.

I was in Operation Enduring Freedom, and this is one of the reasons I soured on Bush. I was impressed with him after September 11th, but after he treated our allies like crap he lost me. That and his unfair tax cuts, too. I believed that he would be a moderate, like Arlen Specter or something. I was wrong.

[RetroLounge]

19. Welcome to DU

and thank you for your service.

[Wetzelbill]

20. Bless you for your service!

Glad to have you home and proud to have you here on DU!

[Poseidon]

21. Thank you very much

So much for the misconception that Democrats don't support the troops, huh? :pals:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

22. yeah, thanks

Thanks for your service to the country in the terror war.

And i agree, that misconception is common. It's the same misconception that says sending troops to die, needlessly and without allied or international assistance, is somehow "supporting the troops".

[Poseidon]

24. Yeah

While simultaneously trying to cut their combat pay, and cutting veterans benefits. Support the troops! :eyes:

[Wetzelbill]

25. yeah, and we are all commie treasonous traitors who want to take away...

guns from every person in our country too. :)

I've written columns about troops benefits getting cut at a time when it was considered damn near sedition to question Bush. I nearly puked when I saw that clown on the USS Abraham Lincoln. I was just thinking about depleted uranium, Gulf War Syndrome and reduced health care benefits for vets. Some nerve that our leaders have, I'll tell you that. My heart aches at every news report I see that tells of another troops death. I used to work with a Vietnam vet who used to be an alcoholic and faced many demons from his service. Flashbacks etc. Lost his wife because he couldn't sleep in the same bed with her as he would wake up choking her to death or he'd flashback and beat her within an inch of her life. I just don't believe that we should send our troops somewhere and expose them to things that may effect their whole lives. To me, human life is not so trivial, so I cannot forgive or forget the Wolfowitz's or Perle's of the world who think nothing of trading soldier's lives for no good reason. As I said, glad to have you here, I may disagree with the action of this war, but never with the people who take an oath to serve our country and lay their lives on the line for what they believe in.

[Poseidon]

28. That was beautiful, man.

:grouphug:

[Wetzelbill]

31. yeah, I have my moments

[progressivebydesign]

32. Clinton had no military experience.. and he kicked ass on terrorism.

You know.. there is no requirement that a president has to have military service to kick ass on terrorism. Clinton did more in his tenure to that end, than Bush has done after proclaiming a "war on terror". Dean is intelligent, he's worldly, and he KNOWS that the first step in combating terrorism is in our relationships and policies abroad. It's not about shooting missiles into cars, or starting wars with Syria. How did Clinton know how to do that? He has no military experience??

[Guaranteed]

23. Dean is Jesus!

;)

[Wetzelbill]

26. and here I thought John Ashcroft was :)

[progressivebydesign]

36. No, I think Ashcroft is King David or something.. n/t

[topherX]

27. Excellent Post - Par for the Course

I appreciate your sentiments regarding Dean's integrity and determination. When I first looked at the democratic candidates last fall, I related to many of Dean's ideas. I respect his sentiments regarding the occupation of Iraq. I liked that Dean spoke his mind while other democratic candidates seemed to shy away from speaking out against the war.

Within the few months, Dean expanded his platform like the other candidates. Dean's message and passion about Iraq has spread to the other candidates. Now the media says that the American people are less concerned about the war and more concerned about _____ (fill in the blank).

What's par for the course? The media has jumped over Dean concession speech in Iowa. Whether we consider the media to be conservative or liberal, they are in the business of making money. If the media thinks that making fun of Deans passionate yell will sell more papers then so be it.

Here's my positive spin on the media's role in the 2004 primaries and elections. First, whenever a candidate show up on the evening news, that's free air time. While the media made fun of Dean, his name was repeated many times this last week. I like to believe that any publicity can potentially be good publicity.

Second, each of the democratic candidates has been attacked by the media and conservative sources. This will continue and intensify through this next year. This process can help toughen the skin of whichever candidate ultimately runs against Bush in November. I'm more interested in how our candidates roll with the punches in their reactions to criticism rather than the criticism itself.

Third, the U.S. voters will elect our next president, not the media. I really enjoy watching Dean's grass roots movement in his campaign. Perhaps we can get our candidate in office through word of mouth and backing our candidate rather than relying on the talking heads on TV.

As Iowa demonstrates, anything goes in these primaries. Predictions mean very little. The voters mean everything.

[Wetzelbill]

30. good stuff

[progressivebydesign]

34. Thanks for the post!

It's heartening to read your post. I'm a Dean supporter, so obviously it means a lot to me. I'm going with my heart in this primary. I'm not going to wallow in issues of who can beat Bush. Anyone can... because no matter who we put up against him, they will be attacked.. regardless of their positions, their experience, their character. It's all fair game. Things that are not a big deal to us, will be made to look like high crimes in the Rove media machine. We have to vote with our hearts in the primary, and work our butts off in the general election. We're all in this together! :grouphug: