How will Dean unite the country if nominated?

[eileen_d]

You all probably remember the Time Magazine cover story showing Bush with a black eye and a lipstick smooch, with the premise that Americans are polarized over their feelings about the Bush administration (the "Love Him, Hate Him President")

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101031201/

And anyone who chooses to venture into our new GD: 2004 Primary forum is most likely accutely aware of the fact that Dean's candidacy represents a departure from many of the other Democratic candidates (I am thinking specifically in contrast to the 2004 candidates who are currently in the Senate or House -- even Kucinich, who does have a more consistent progressive record than the other congressmen, is still separate from the Dean "phenomenon"). I'm not saying that Dean is the cause of division within the Democratic Party; just acknowledging the fact that Dean presents himself as a quite different alternative to the other Democrats in the running and has succeeded in doing so.

So my question is quite simple: How is Dean going to unite the factions within the Democratic Party, and/or within the United States as a whole? Will that be necessary if he hopes to win the general election?

I'm not really interested in negative replies such as "He won't unite anybody and we're doomed" -- because frankly that's what worries me. I would like to hear about how Dean plans to unite the Democrats and the country behind him.

Thanks!

[DarkPhenyx]

1. He won't unite the country.

with the current state of politics in this country, and the deep socio-economic divisions we have, it will take more time and effort than we are likely to get in Dean's time.

[poskonig]

2. By focusing on what we have in common.

The Republican base will always hate him, but Dean will do well once the election season picks up. By framing the debate in terms of healthcare, education, and jobs, the Republicans will have a difficult time doing the usual wedge stuff without looking nasty.

Dean is already bringing outsiders and insiders together within the Democratic Party.

[La_Serpiente]

3. No one person can solve the problems in this country

it would have to be a movement of some sort by the people. He can feed the movement, but that is it. It would have to be a societal project.

[opihimoimoi]

4. More than likely the reconciliation will take place IF, thats an IF,

he can remind us Dems successfully that we have a common adversary in the form of Bush. That he, the Dem Nominee, has won the right to step to the plate and that he, had he lost, would help whoever the Dem Nominee that was chosen to take out the above named common adversary.

It is not about who, it is about the changing of the Guard.

Bush represents the Pub System of cronyism, selfishness, deficiet spending, etc etc, namely, the old system.

Dean represents a new approach which strives to invigorate the process to result in a way better alternative than the status quo.

He tells us of a desire to focus more on the Common Good, Better Times, etc all through the use of an Inclusive system, one that has pathways down to up and vice versa. Its the Responsive System he represents. I like it.

[shance]

5. Doing the same thing he is doing now.

Listening, hearing, and implementing positive, healthy, proactive change, not to mention effective legislation.

He will unite and inspire essentially by his own example, which has been the defining difference between him and the other candidates.

[jpgpenn]

6. Dean will divide...

not unite. Not only will Dean leave America polarized with repub against Dems but Dean further divides the Democratic party!

[frustrated_lefty]

7. Through respect.

In policy, he abides by the golden rule. Treat others as you would want to be treated. It's trite, but he does that, and it wins associates, if not always friends and allies.

He's not even the nominee and he's raising money for democratic congressmen who face challenging elections. He has a record of, and promises to continue, doing things you may not like at face value, but he promises to explain why and what will be accomplished thereby.

YOU will be part of the process. YOU will be in the know. YOU will know what your government is doing and why it is doing it. And if you don't like the results, kick his ass out in 4 years. But if YOU choose to do so, it will be because YOU are fully informed.

Aside from that, to quote somebody, we CAN do better than this.