Dean may be out....but it would be stupid to forget him as VP

[Khephra]

Personally, if it is Kerry, I think the best way to go is with a Dean VP.

Yeah, they've both been at each others throats, but so were Bush and Regan. We know where that got them.

Kerry's war stance is close enough to Dean's that I can get behind him. Edwards is still gung ho about the war. I personally can't stand the man.

Kerry...I can get behind.

We need to unify the party. Kerry will be attacked on his war views, as we've already seen. Picking Dean won't hurt him anymore than his past statements and it will unify both sides of the parry.

I'm going to get flamed for this, but I still think this is the best choice. To ignore the Dean grassroots will cause any campagin to end, imo.

[incapsulated]

1. This, I would like to see

For entertainment sake alone. :)

[Khephra]

3. If it would help

I'd die to see Clark as Sec of Defense.

[incapsulated]

5. I would prefer Sec of State

Too much baggage and bad feelings with the Pentagon. And he would be much better at it, imo.

[displacedtexan]

2. Which states could Dean deliver for the party?

Interesting idea.

[Khephra]

6. It's not so much about states

Dean still has the best grassroots and internet conections of all of them...and to let that go to waste......

[HereSince1628]

12. The expectation is the nominee gets Dean's organization

by default. And with the ABB attitude I think that in all probability will happen.

[Eloriel]

23. You're apparently not that well in touch with

most Dean supporters.

Howard was speaking the truth when he speculated aloud that we "may not be transferrable."

[chimpymustgo]

26. So they're transferring to Bush?

That would be the effect, you know.

But I give Dean's supporters a lot more credit. They'll fight to get these criminals out of the White House - whether Dean is on the ticket or not.

[RetroLounge]

31. 50% of all eligible voters do NOT vote.

so by your logic, they are all votes for Bush*???

Try again...

[chimpymustgo]

33. No. By my logic most Dean supporters will support the nominee.

They're not stupid.

[HereSince1628]

40. Actually, I am in plenty good touch...

I know very well that no one, including myself, is wanting to talk about shifting loyalties. I also know that there is a huge interest in unseating Bush.

But I also know that Trippi, and other staff are now available and more expect to be let go. These are democrats and professionals looking for another gig. Many of them are not going to sit out the GE.

[el_gato]

4. they will never let Dean have that position

he alludes to LIHOP and other "sensitive" issues that are a no no
can't have someone bringing up important issues
might make the peasants a little restless

[blm]

10. Dean said he doesn't believe in LIHOP. He backtracked.

Remember?

[Eloriel]

24. He didn't backtrack. He was misquoted to start with. remember?

[mmonk]

7. Dean's not out

[BOSSHOG]

8. Maybe not good Political Geography?

I will vote for any combination of our fine candiates (with the exception of Sharpton), however, I believe a geographic balance might be necessary. Kerry and Dean would make a fine team to lead our country but the south won't buy that team in big enough numbers to make a difference. I hope that Kerry, Dean, Clark and Edwards are all part of the next administration. But it will require a little geographic balance at the top two positions.

[Khephra]

14. Well, if we need a southern balance

It will be counter effected if we pick Edwards as VP.

I've been talking to my southern family, and guess what? They're all TOO familiar with Edwards. NO crossover votes there. They HATE the man. They think he's a phoney. :shrug:

[chimpymustgo]

28. My southern family loves John Edwards.

Everybody I know loves Edwards. Hey.

[HereSince1628]

9. I think not, and I'm a Dean supporter

Dean not only lacks the personality for VP, the ticket would become immediately regional.

Because the democratic party isn't one party but actually a coalition of the "South" party and the "All Others" party what you are proposing won't work.

The ticket really doesn't have a chance unless it has broad geographic appeal. IMHO the VP must have strong appeal in CA, TX, or FL., I doubt the "South" party will be satisfied with someone from the west coast.

[Khephra]

16. personality?

Chenney?

Nuff said

[HereSince1628]

22. Do you really think Dean can spend 4 years of ceremonial

duties? You have got to be kidding.

A Kerry/Dean ticket would have even less appeal than Mondale/Ferraro

[EXE619K]

11. Speaking on behalf of myself only....

If Dean does not get the nomination, I'd rather see him just go back to Vermont.

If the Democratic voters cannot see the leadership qualities of Howard Dean....it's their loss.

[PDittie]

17. He deserves some post in a Dem admin

What about HHS Sec.? Would that be too demeaning?

[Joe the Revelator]

13. Dean Doesn't Bring Any States to the Ticket

He'll get the same new england votes that Kerry would.

[mrgorth]

15. Agreed

Geography is the problem. That's why we have to go for Clark as a 2nd choice.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

18. If we want to lose to Bush, Dean would be a good choice for Veep.

His unfavorable ratings are too high, and he hasn't demonstrated an ability to win elections.

[RetroLounge]

32. How many elections did Cheney win again?

eom

[democratreformed]

19. Who said Dean was out? n/t

[CWebster]

20. Two New Englanders

Kerry couldn't bear the probability of Dean outshining him. He would rather lose.

[BearFlagDemocrat]

21. I still say

Richardson for VP.

[dolstein]

25. With all due respect -- what grassroots?

Sorry, but Dean got his a** kicked in Iowa and New Hampshire. That mythical grassroots support never materialized for him.

[NNN0LHI]

38. Then what was it? Was it all just an illusion then? I don't get it?

If that is the case as it appears to be, what fueled the illusion? Any ideas? I am truly stumped. Thanks for any answer if you know or even have a guess.

Don

[Eloriel]

27. I'm a little disappointed in your idea, Kef

First, I think it's insulting.

Second, if Dean is the VP, it wouldn't make me vote for a shameless pos like Kerry. In fact, it would seriously undermine my respect for Dean if he accepted such a thing.

The geography issue is probably an important one, but if Dean is not the nominee and Kerry is, I could care less what he does.

[On the Road]

29. Dean is NOT Going to Get VP

or if he does, I'll be shocked. He's become an untouchable.

But Dean as VP candidate would be excellent for the party and Democratic chances in November. It's the only way to keep the bulk of the organization and energy -- otherwise, it will just evaporate.

I think that if Kerry wins, he needs to throw Dean some kind of bone. I just don't think it will be large enough.

[soleft]

30. Secretary of Heath and Human Services is perfect fit, I think

[Casablanca]

34. How can you consider Dean as VP when Kerry won't be president?

You're counting your chickens before they're hatched.

[YouMustBeKiddingMe]

35. No disrespect intended, but I think that's a terrible idea

The voting public has rejected Dean, in a BIG way, and to put him on the ticket as VP would be political suicide.

Kerry is not being attacked on his war views. The majority of the voting public is not hung up on the IWR, but on how to deal with the situation from here on out, and not continuing into more endless wars in Syria and Iran, to name a few. As a matter of fact, the majority of Americans are more concerned about domestic issues than foreign policy.

You are operating under the premise that the Democratic ticket has to appeal to the demographic of Dean supporters rather that the larger American voting public. Kerry has broad appeal with Independents and some Republicans as well.

As with all of the 9 candidates, the goal in this election is to beat Bush. Dean's position is that if he does not win the nomination, he will support the eventual Democratic nominee. I have every confidence that the majority of his supporters share in that same goal.

[Nicholas_J]

36. Dean has alienated every other candidate

No one is going to offer him a thing. His core of devoted supporters is relatively small. Most of Kerry;s gains have come from those who supported Dean but were not part of the hard core of Dean supporters. The small hard core group of Dean supporters is not really needed by any candididate to win the election.

Dick Gephardt certainly wasnt going to endorse or support Dean, nor were any of Getphardt supporters.

Certainly John Edwards will not, after Deans many attacks on Edwards, particularly the early ones.

And not Clark who Dean has repeatedly attacked as a Republican.

They will not forget, and besides, Deans support now is more than likely to harm, rather than help anyone who Dean supports.

Dean has burned every bridget behind himself and will very likely disappaear from politics. He signle handedly destroyed the Democratic party in Vermont, and now Vermont has moderate enough Republican leadership to not need Deans conservative version of Democratic politics to attract Vermont moderate Republicans. Halof of the Vermont Democratic Party abandoned it for the Progressives, who passionately despise Dean. This leaves the Vermont Democratic Party which now only amounts to about 35 percent of the states voters. Another 25 percent are Progressives. 40 percent are Republican.

Progressive will not vote Democrat at all. Republicans are now staying loyal to Republicans rather than voting for a Democrat.

Dean has destroyed his credibility with the DLC and the DNC, and the statements about dropping out after Wisconsin are an attempt to make peace with the centrist DLC, hoping that they will not make him sit in the corner, or in fact, not support any political run he attempts to make anywhere as a Democrat, simply by putting up alterantive democrats for any political office Dean attempts to run for in the future. Howard will be punished for failing to be a team player, for placing his own egotistical desire for office over the good of the organization. As decided by the membership of the organization.Not one man who wishes to shape that organization in his own image, alone.

Dean will not be offered a position by any of the remaining candidates. He is a liability.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

37. His core of nontransferrable supporters is relatively small.

I believe most will come to support the nominee.

[Eloriel]

39. I don't think you're in a position to know that

Are you? Or, put another way, what makes you think you are in a position to know?

[janx]

41. Such expert political analysis! This should be on CNN! n/t