playing catch-up with Dean?

[radfringe]

this is NOT intended to start a flame war, and is not intended to slight or endorse any candidate - it's just something that occured to me and I'm tossing it out

The momentum around Dean occured because of the amount of anger people feel about Bush, and the level of frustration people have regarding the Democratic Party's handling of the 2000-selection, taxcuts, environmental trashing, Iraq etc. In other words the Dems were/are seen as bowing to the wishes of the naked emperor. We've all posted at one time or another about how "spineless" the Dems seem when it came to standing up to Bush

In comparison to most (Braun, Sharpton, Clark excluded) of the other Dem candidates - Dean is in the position of not having to "vote" on any of these issues, whereas Gephardt, Lieberman, Edwards, Kerry, Kuchinich and former candidate Graham did have to "vote"

Did it ever occur to anyone out there that if the Dem's (candidates and the party as a whole) had taken strong (or stronger) measures to defeat/oppose Bush prior to the nomination race (with the same vigor that they are now attacking Dean) - that these candidates wouldn't have to play catch-up to Dean now?

[Melodybe]

1. Of Course, Dean stood out b/c he was willing to call the GOP on their shit

That is what attracted me to him in the first place. He did it first and he did it when the other Dems were particularly spineless. Now they are pissed that they are all behind in the polls, boo hoo, they lost their chance.

[eileen_d]

2. Sure it did

But it has also occurred to me that as a governor, Dean had certain luxuries that Democratic senators did not. So I factored that into my equation, looked at the candidates' long term records and positions on the issues, and came out a Kerry supporter. However, I got tired of hearing Kerry talk about Dean all the time. I don't particularly want to hear about Dean anymore, which is why I support Clark and Kucinich.

True story. ;)

[radfringe]

4. when Dean's campaign started taking off

because he was the only one out there that was "attacking" Bush, most of the other candidates pooh-poohed Dean's campaign - but as the momentum grew, they jumped on the attack-Bush band wagon. However, at that point, it was too little too late for most of them and apparent that they were following Dean's lead

dispite the DLC/DNC "warnings" about Dean - he still gathered momentum

when jumping on the attack-Bush band wagon didn't work, they turned to attacking Dean

On the original line-up of candidates, I saw the race coming down to Kerry or Dean, then added Clark to the list when he jumped in

The attacks on Dean may take their toll or he may flame himself. Kerry still has to find his "hook" to bring in more supporters.

I'm leaning towards Clark at the moment - but that could change at anytime.

as far as the issues go - essentially all the Dem's are saying the same thing, it's just the "method" of implementing their plans that are different - and as we all know, what a candidate says on the trail is vastly different from what and how a plan is put into action.

[The Mighty Boot]

3. Exactly.

Where were they? They did their constituents the
ultimate betrayal when they caved to the hypocritical
skunks of the Gloating Obfuscators Party. So that we
wouldn't "soil this man's reputation" or whatever
that thingamajig Scalia said about AWOL *. Well, F
them in the face, so much damage has been done by
Chimpleton and his minions that I'm ready to revolt
if that piece of garbage is still in the Whore House
a year from now. I'm ABB of course but I want my candidate
to be right in their face with a repudiation of each and
every lie. They need to pick up the megaphone and get it
done. And wherever the "Electoral College " is, I hope
it caves in due to mine subsidence.

Incidentally, Merry Christmas

[Cheswick2.0]

7. welcome to DU

if you are new. Glad to have you here.

[The Mighty Boot]

8. thanks

I'm not-I lurked for a long while and may go
dormant again but the flaming had me so sick
that I just wanted to contribute to try to
balance things a little.


on edit:

I live about 5 miles from Cheswick, Pa.
Ever heard of it?

[Cheswick2.0]

5. of course

even people who don't follow politics the way we do have remarked to me that they are interested in Dean because he seems to be the only one "telling it like it is".

[eileen_d]

6. Yeah, you're describing my dad here

He's a very disillusioned Republican - starting back with Bush the Elder. Dean got his attention just as you described.