Why do people say Dean is finished if he doesn't endorse kerry?

[ProudToBeLiberal]

People are saying that he will be finished from the democratic party. If Dean doesn't get the nomination I think he will campaign against Bush but, he won't outright support kerry. I think Dean trancends party lines so if the Democratic party turns their back on him I think he can hold his own. He has enough supporters to help him without the democratic party. It's not going to be Dean who looses out but the Democratic party if they turn their back on Dean.

[Dookus]

1. well

he'd need supporters outside the Democratic party because it's pretty obvious he doesn't have a lot of 'em IN the party.

Not enough to win a primary, anyway.

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. I predict...

at some point after Dean withdraws, a funeral piece on his run in some publication or other titled "The Dean Candidacy: The Internet Bubble of 2003-04".

[Guaranteed]

7. What will front page look like

after Kerry loses to Bush?

"Kerry Gets Rolled Again"

[George_Bonanza]

2. Dean ran as a Democrat for 11 years in Vermont

He's a true Dem to the bone. Like the Greens would ever take a moderate, free trade supporter. No, Dean's here to stay, and that's good.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

3. I would have to disagree

Nader said that he'll not run if dean or kucinich gets the nomination

[MurikanDemocrat]

5. He doesn't have to "endorse" Kerry.

But he is a Democrat, and has always said he would stand behind the nominee in the end.

But if you are then expecting the Democratic Party to revolve around Dean, your are going to be disappointed. The purpose of the election is to defeat Bush.

[fearnobush]

6. I can recall Dean claiming that he would support who ever the

nominee would be.

[HuskerDem]

8. I can recall him asking all the other candidates to pledge the same

when he was sure it would be him.

[Lexingtonian]

9. 'cause he made both Nader's and Gore's mistakes

Dean ran as a Left non-liberal anti-establishmentarian, like Nader. And as a silver spoon populist, like Gore (and Bush).

The problem is the political reality of the present. The racial/ethnic/gender fracturing of the society requires delivery of the liberal social agenda- equality in practice- to precede any revival of the Left. Secondly, the large corporations represent so much of the national wealth and thus are such loci of power now that the unregenerate Left of the present is hopelessly outmatched. Thirdly, the Culture War has gone on long enough that despite our distrust in the competence of our leaders, the Party is not inclined to change them. The belief is there, despite vocal discontents, that they have learned just enough so that the rank and file believes that bringing in new leadership people en masse is unlikely to improve things.

Dean has simply made too many mistakes; he thought the obvious was the truth of the situation, acted accordingly, and went so far out on a limb with it that no one in the middle and upper tiers of the Party trusts his judgment. A misdiagnosis by the Doctor, giving his patient Party a iatrogenic disorder.