Tonight I am thinking about Howard Dean.

[Clark4Prez]

Well the results are less than two hours away and I am thinking about Howard Dean.

Last January, he was dismissed as another "vanity" candidate. At best, he was this generation's Rubin Askew, the Florida Gov. that ran in 1984 for the Democratic nomination (Askew was loved in Florida, but was a long shot, he lost, as you know). Howard Dean was written off by the conventional wisdom pundits.

Then came his rise in the polls and the stunning Al Gore endorsement. Dean was granted the dubious honor of "Democratic front runner". Dubious of course, because the media dissected every word and action. They pushed a "Stop Dean" movement and bestowed the title of "Anti-Dean" on Clark, Edwards, and Kerry.

Then came the Iowa vote and Dean came in third. The media could hardly contain their joy at the outcome. Howard Dean was once again written off by conventional wisdom pundits.

Then there was "the scream", the New York Post had a front page picture and a headline of "Howard's End". Yes-sir, it was over and Howard Dean was written off by conventional wisdom pundits.

But, his supporters, caring less for conventional wisdom, it's pundits or the media, continued to support him. He raised a million dollars in a week, not bad for a guy that doesn't have a chance, somebody should tell these people!

Then the come back, Dean will finish at worst second and maybe even win tonight. And that has me inspired. Because the power of people desirous for change cannot be derailed merely because the few and powerful don't like it.

As I was saying, tonight I am thinking about Howard Dean.

[progressivebydesign]

1. And now, I'm thinking about you!

.. and what a great, thoughtful, classy post that was! thanks!! :hi:

[frank frankly]

2. wonderful

me, too.

[David Zephyr]

3. Thank You Very Much.

And you've got a hell of a candidate, too.

I'm hoping for a very strong showing by Clark (after Dean, natch).

[Jack_Dawson]

4. Update your train!

He surpassed $2 million

[Clark4Prez]

5. Thanks! Done. n/t

[Cassandra]

6. Josh Marshall noted something Dean said that was lovely...

""If you want to change the president," and this is a close to verbatim paraphrase from my notes, "vote for any of the candidates on the ballot tomorrow. They're all better than George W. Bush. But if you want to change America, vote for me.""
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
When Dean says things like that, I feel so proud to be a Democrat. And he's right; we have a really fine group of candidates this year.

[arcos]

7. This has got to be the nicest post in the whole day...

:hi: :hi: :hi:

[Cuban_Liberal]

8. I'm thinking about him, too.

What an amazing thing he's done! :)

[populistmom]

9. Exactly!

When I began to like Dean a year ago, I think he was polling around 2%. I'm not writing him off just yet. The pundits just want to know who the frontrunner is so they know where to focus their attacks.

[WI_DEM]

10. Thank you, that is very nice

I've bonded with quite a few of the Clark supporters this week due to the media attacks on him--like the attacks on Dean--mostly without foundation. They want to defeat the two non-Washington people in the race.

[Jerseycoa]

11. Thanks, Clark4

:cry: :grouphug:

[gardenista]

12. Yep, and I'm thinking about Wes Clark.

I intentionally learned more about Wes Clark this week, took the time to watch his awesome speech in NH, checked out his website, thought long and hard about party affiliation questions, and determined that I really like what he has to say. I've been pulling for him, and will continue to do so.

That said, as a Dean supporter, I'm grateful for the kindness shown to us by the majority of Clark supporters on this board when we were hurting.

There is a very long road ahead. No matter what happens, let's beat Bush together!

[meti57b]

20. Thank you for that.

In addition, folks here realize that is what the media and the republicans would and will do to any of our candidates, so we have to stick together.

[killbotfactory]

13. He survived a media assassination attempt

That's pretty impressive.

[slinkerwink]

14. thank you, and I'm thinking about Wesley Clark

:hi:

[anti-NAFTA]

15. 'Howard's End'

That's pretty witty. I don't know I hadn't thought of that even though I read the book (Howards End) a few weeks ago.

I hope you're right. I hope Clark is shut out of the race and that Dean wins the next primaries.

[bigwillq]

24. I disagree with you that "you hope Clark gets shut out"

As some of the others have said, I think Dean/Clark, Clark/Dean will make an excellent duo

[anti-NAFTA]

28. Oh.

I happen to think Kucinich/Gephardt would make a better duo, but that's just me :)

[bigwillq]

31. I respect your opinion

I'm just trying to be sensitive for the other supporters. It's a real tough time for all of us and let's keep in mind that all the candidates are DEMS and we should hope they all have a good showing. A good showing will prove that no matter which one is elected that they all equally have the shot at beating the shrub.

[bigwillq]

16. Awesome post

I hope Dean goes all the way. For all you Clark's supporters hang in there. There's a long way to go and your candidate has the support, money, resources, and integrity to make it a fight. A week ago, everyone, like the thread starter said, wrote off Dean and now Dean may sneak out a win tonight.

In an instant that's how it could be for Clark.

also, good luck to all the other candidates and there supporters. I felt I had to give a shout out to the Clark Camp b/c they seem so down. I know how they feel. That was me a week ago.

[Ediacara]

17. I too, am thinking about Wes Clark

Thanks for one of the best posts on DU in a long time! I do like Kerry and Edwards and etc, but I have really been inspired by Dean and Clark. I only wish they would both get over themselves and team up :-)

[patricia92243]

18. Thank You! Us Dean people all need that!

[JaneQPublic]

19. Clark/Dean or Dean/Clark 2004!!!

I still say the two of them would be the perfect formula for success in November.

And thanks for a very gracious post!

[Padraig18]

21. That's very gracious of you!

Thank you, and best of luck to us all!

:hi:

[reprehensor]

22. Join Us................

If you haven't seen Dean do his Top Ten on Letterman, PM your email address, and I will send it to you. It's very funny. The man does have sense of humility.

[sendero]

23. Thanks...

... I'm a Dean supporter who also is very impressed with Clark.

After the "scream", I have to admit I was worried. I was a little dissapointed in Dean in that he was playing into his critic's hands.

But once I got to see the speech in context, I realized that he'd done nothing wrong.

The media and the Repugs are going to come at whoever wins this nomination with everything they've got. I've seen two candidates who I feel can handle that the best. Dean, he's proven it. And Clark, who I've seen in whore interviews handle himself with total grace in the face of withering attacks.

My penultimate dream for this election would be a Dean/Clark ticket, although I realize there is little chance of that happening.

The ultimate dream is to send that sniveling, lying, smirking, dress up and play soldier boy back to the ranch where maybe the task at hand is within his capabilities. Insult to ranchers not intended :)

[mzmolly]

25. YOU ROCK!!!

Thank YOU! :toast:

You know what, your right. Dean supporters are not going to quietly go away! Neither will Howard Dean.

[Sterling]

26. I gave $25 last night.

I won't let the whores tell me how to think.

[HuckleB]

27. Nice post.

I only wish that it were Clark and Dean who were neck and neck in NH.

Cheers!

[indie_voter]

29. RIght on!!

Disclaimer: I am a Clark Supporter. I do hope he wins the nomination, however I would most happily vote for Dean.

I am rooting for him to win tonight. I really he pulls it off. It will mitigate some of the saddness I feel at Clark's potential fourth place showing.

ABB is my motto, but I would like to vote for a candidate I am jazzed about, Dean would fit the bill very nicely.

WTG Dean and his supporters.

[ozone_man]

30. Thanks.

I think there is some synergy between Dean and Clark campaigns. Perhaps because of their grass roots nature. Don't know where it goes from here, but thanks for the nice thoughts.

[pearl]

32. Both of them come from grassroots

and the party heads don't seem to understand that as Democratic
activists and voters, we have waited long enough to have our
elections and votes not defiled.
Every shred of power they, the GOP, has gained they have used it
to abuse the voters, us, for electing, re-electing Clinton.
They have taken their extreme abuse of power way way too far and we
must settle things in our party and make sure they stay on the
warpath of our real opponents.
I also think the republicans are confused because they are having to
dig up dirt on o so many candidates they can hardly focus on what
The American people want them to be doing which is Their Will.

"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living"
mother jones