Clark supporters - Say something nice about Dean.

[Skinner]

I think this exercise might be helpful in breaking a little bit of the tension in here. I'm curious whether people are even capable of doing this. And don't post one of those comments that is actually backhanded criticism.

(I'm making the Dean supporters do the same thing.)

[Jerseycoa]

1. Four years ago

He defended single mothers on that Canadian show. Good for him.

[deminflorida]

21. Yep, I was wrong on this one....I initially thought the guy across....

the table was debating for somekind of welfare benefit for children and that Dean was saying it was crap...I fell for the way it was being spun. Dean is right, it is crap and an insult to single mothers.

[RetroLounge]

67. Thank you for saying that.

eom

[ewagner]

2. Dean has energized the party

He has focused our anger and channeled it into action.

btw...I am not a hard-core dean supporter, but I will campaign for him if he gets the nomination.

[Dookus]

3. I think Howard Dean

is very very smart. I admire the passion with which he goes after Bush. I believe he has the gusto to really fight a tough race against Bush.

[Mattforclark]

4. He signed into law

the civil unions bill, for which he should be commended.

[democratreformed]

5. I agree with Dean

that capturing Saddam did not make the USA safer. I admire him for saying that.

[maddezmom]

6. He has amazing grassroot support

and probably redefined internet fundraising.

[Clark4Prez]

7. Dean has shown a keen ability to grassroots to a new level

His creation of a grassroots movement that became the envy of other candidates. The use of Meetups was brilliant. His base is energized, dedicated, and willing to give both time and money in support of their candidate.

I maintain that win or lose, the Dean campaign will be the model for future political campaigns both local and national.

[LTR]

8. He is good at raising money

Which shows that there are people out there, many people, that will actually support someone against Bush.

[bamademo]

9. He'll make a great Vice-President

Clark/Dean will be unstoppable.

[rogerashton]

27. No, no, no.

That's "backhanded."

[jmaier]

10. Be happy to oblige

Dean has created a very powerful campaign fueled by populism, energy and a very real desire to strip power from corporate republican manipulators.

Dean's record in Vermont is effectively left-centrist without losing sight of core liberal principles. I do give him credit for the civil union bill in a state that is no where near as liberal as it's perceived.

I think he would be a good Democratic President and I'd be proud to vote and canvass for him if the time comes.





Wes Clark. He will make an extraordinary American President.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lurk_no_more]

12. He is electable!

And then there were none!
” JAFO”

[RandomUser]

13. He's changed the campaign fundraising structure

The internet grassroots activisim and meetups will have implications for Democrats in years to come, regardless of who our nominee is or whether we win this election. He's done a lot to energize the party.

[wndycty]

14. This is easy. . .

. . .he changed the game. Regardless of whomever wins the nomination we all owe his campaign for changing the way politics are conducted. I firmly believe that General Clark's campaign would not be nearly as successful if it were not for many of the initiatives and programs pioneered or refined by the Dean camp.

[returnable]

22. Kick cuz...

...ya took the words right out of my mouth :hi:

The Dean campaign has challenged everyone, not only his supporters but EVERYONE, to strive for more and rekindled the dormant belief that individuals do indeed have the *ahem* power to make a change.

That's a fantastic accomplishment.

[xultar]

15. Dean is sa fighter. We haven't had a fighter in the Democratic

party in a long time.

Dennis also has some fight. I loved the way he handed Ted Koppel his hat at the one Debate.

CMB-Smart woman. She makes me feel better about being a black female since Condi messed it up.

I like Kerry. He was AWESOME down in FL @ the Dem convention.

Gep is kewl. He isn't translating well but he is a good man and I do like some of his policies.

John Edwards, I know he isn't really running for President. He is about to become big in the political game.

Uncle Joe, well that requires some more nyquil and another nap.

[beawr]

16. Howard Dean is not a litmus test liberal

I like Howard Dean because he appears to know how to govern across the spectrum. He certainly would be a better uniter than the lying chimp. I like him because he doesn't flaunt his personal life. I like him because I can trust him.

[mmonk]

17. I liked Dean initially

and still do. He doesn't mind saying what he thinks no matter how much the republicans will try to spin his meaning into something negative. It takes courage to go against some position out there that is popular because the truth requires something else to be said such as issues regarding the Iraq war.

[_Wayne_]

18. Dean makes me proud to be a Democrat

He's the right man for the nomination. Just not the right choice.

[Bread and Circus]

19. He's a primary care doctor, so am I...we bear the brunt of the medical

community's frustration along with nurses.

We have been unduly punished by a F***ed up system and
generally get less respect than we deserve.

I do like Dean's firebrand style and he helped wake up
a lot of napping Dems.

His net based organization is overall the best in terms of
inclusion, Clark's is a good second...I applaud that.

[Clark Can WIN]

39. Hey Family Doctor.....................

I just want to say we have the utmost admiration for Primary Care Physicians here at our house.

If my daughter goes into medical science, it's what I hope she would choose.

Just wanted you to know.:grouphug:

Edited to add a hug:)

[deminflorida]

20. He is responsible for motivating the first real grass-roots effort

since the Vietnam war. He's a fighter and I admire that. Contrary to popular belief I think he's very electable.

[John_H]

23. He was a great centrist governor and is running a great campaign

He did not waffle one bit on the pledge he made when his predecessor died and he assumed his first term as Vermont's Governor--to Govern in a bipartisan manner, earning him many Republican State Assembly and State Senate votes for his initiatives.

He also served his country by being active in the National Democratic Party through the DGA and the DLC. As DGA Chair he raised the money that got Democratic Governors like Alabama's Don Siegelman,
Kentucky's Paul Patton, and Indiana's Frank O'Bannon elected. Through both organizations he helped increase the amount of money raised from Pfizer, Boeing, the NRA and other groups who otherwise would have given that money to the Republicans.

He also is running a brilliant campaign, making his supporters feel as though they are part of a movement, that they are just as important as the party insiders that comprise his main paid staff.

[jumptheshadow]

24. There are many things I like about him

It took backbone to sign the civil union bill when he had higher political aspirations.

Instead of following his father's gilded path into the financial community, he decided to enter medical school and to be in a service profession.

He is open-minded enough to have married outside his faith, and to have raised his children outside his faith.

He has captured the hearts -- and the political loyalty -- of some friends and acquaintances who are very good people.

And last -- but not least, by any stretch of the imagination -- he raised his voice against the war at a time when it was a politically dangerous action.

[Killarney]

25. A few things

He's very good at energizing people.

He's a very intelligent man.

He truly seems to care about people. From volunteering in his younger days, to being a doctor, to some of his views now (civil unions, equal rights, health care). I do believe he cares about people and important social issues.

[boxster]

26. He's brought a lot of politically-disinterested people back into politics.

And, he's generating lots of press coverage for Democrats, in general.

[Barbara917]

28. OK

Super organization, great passionate supporters.

[rogerashton]

29. He will beat his polls.

Most of the polls look only at "likely voters." But the Dr. has brought a lot of "unlikely voters" into the process and will do better in elections (not so sure about caucuses) than his polls predict.

[dae]

30. Howard Dean galvanized the party with his fire. I love what he has done

for the Democrats and the country.

[Toucano]

31. Howard Dean is a courageous man.

I admire how he broke from his family's traditions at his own personal cost to embrace to truth of Democratic principles. He is his own person, beholden to no one.

[Dookus]

32. The other thread was so nice, I'll say more....

First, thank you Skinner - what a great exercise.

Howard Dean was the first to really tap into the anger that so many of us felt after 2000. He instinctively knew how to draw from it and used it to build a truly revolutionary campaign. I think Democrats are blessed at this time in history to have such an awesome collection to choose from.

[Rowdyboy]

33. I remember how "serious pundits" laughed scornfully

a year ago talking about the unknown governor of a tiny New England state, especially one who signed civil unions into law. Well, Dean has poked a very sharp stick in their eyes! He's taken campaigning to an altogether new level on the INTERNET, he organized a grassroots campaign and he has the art of fund raising down beautifully. He is, and has been, my solid second choice for some months now.

In fact, its not hard at all for me to speak glowingly of Governor Dean.

[Jack_Dawson]

34. I think he's the smoothest off-the-cuff speaker of the 9 candidates

[maxr4clark]

35. Dean...

has an impressive list of endorsements.
has out-campaigned the original front-runner, Kerry.
is likely to win the NH primary and the IA caucus.
has used the Internet effectively to energize his constituency.
has resonated with young voters.

If Dean wins the nomination, I will support him gladly in the General Election.

[Clark Can WIN]

36. Dean has done a good job of illustrating what a powerful tool

the internet is and how helpful it can be to our party. From this election on it will be used as a model for early campaigning.

[cally]

37. Dean captured the

anger and frustration so many of us felt at the way the country was heading. It took tremendous courage for him to stand up and oppose the war and talk about what the Bushistas are doing. His internet based campaign is revolutionary and will change politics. He has motivated his supporters to donate and volunteer in record numbers.

[Atlant]

38. I'm in the wrong thread, but I'd like to make an interesting observation:

I'm posting in the "wrong" thread, but I'd like to make
an interesting observation:

I have a lot of Clark supporters "on ignore".

But of you folks who have found it in your hearts to
say something nice about my candidate, Howard Dean,
I had NONE of you on ignore.

I find this interesting, and hope that you do too.

Atlant

[Clark Can WIN]

42. So you come in here to shake your finger at us when we are trying

to be nice to your candidate? Nice.

My first reaction might have been to tell you where you can put that finger BUT I think it would be more appropriate to suggest that you turn it around and shake it at some of your fellow Dean supporters who are just as guilty.

I will venture to guess that you do not have Dean supporters who have been unduly harsh and irrisponsible towards Clark on your IGNORE list.

I find this interesting, and hope that you do too.

[Skinner]

43. In his defense.

I think he was trying to say something nice about the Clark supporters in this thread.

I hope that we do not get off topic here.

[Clark Can WIN]

49. I will say something else nice about Dean

I admire Dean for signing into law a civil union bill when so much of the country was against it and still is. It was the right thing to do and it took guts to do so.

But Skinner, with all due respect I reread the post and my impression remains. The poster was expressing suprise? disdain? at how many Clark supporters were on their ignore list and then proceeds to shake a finger and says "if you just would have been nice"..............

There's plenty of busted teeth on both sides of this brawl.

But you are right, the poster should have stayed on subject.


We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

[Toucano]

52. I think your interpretation is off.

I understood the poster to be sharing the observation that none of the Clark supporters who are capable of saying somthing nice about Dean were on his ignore list.

It's a compliment to the fairness of the people posting nice things about Dean in this thread.

I went to the sister thread and found the same thing in reverse.

The point being that the negativity in GD:2004 is largely the result of the same "ardent" people in both camps.

That's my take anyway. Cheers!

[KittyWampus]

57. Hey, You're Right!

Sister Thread is as you say!

So here's my next compliement for Howard Dean:

Dean has, by and large, dedicated, bright and terrific supporters who I'll be proud to work with if he gets the nod!

[LuminousX]

54. No, he was saying that none of you were on his ignore list

[Crunchy Frog]

101. I think his remarks

were intended as a complement. In this current environment it's easy to become so oversensitive that an attempted complement is percieved as an attack, but I think he was just acknowledging that there are many Clark supporters who are not obnoxious, even though a few of them are.:)

[Dookus]

51. this probably isn't

the thread in which to proclaim how much you hate Clark supporters.

There's at least a hundred other ones.

[Schmendrick54]

58. I agree.

Hi Dookus.

This is certainly not a thread "to proclaim how much you hate Clark supporters". In fact, it would probably have been better for all of us Dean supporters to just post in our own thread for nice things to say about Clark (which I recently did).

However, ... (you knew there would be a however, didn't you?) I have read Atlant's post above several times, and I just don't see anything in there that seems to proclaim "hate" of Clark supporters. It just looked like an observation that the set of people he (she?) had chosen to place on "ignore" and the set of Clark supporters who chose to post something nice about Dean did not intersect. I guess you could say this was off-topic, but I do not see it as a slam.

If you interpret the comment to suggest that the equivalent statement is not true in the other direction (i.e., that there are posters who support Dean in a manner which are worthy of "ignore" and could not bring themselves to say something positive about Clark) I would agree that this suggestion is not true. But again, I do not read that into the post either.

I, for one, as a Dean supporter feel that there are several other posters here who seem to be Dean supporters but who, in fact, have a negative effect here by virtue of their strident, negative tone toward other candidates. It would be foolish of me to deny this. But I would politely ask you to re-read Atlant's comment to see if the message is really as negative as your response seems to indicate.

Having already failed to take my own advice about leaving this thread to the Clark supporters, I will just add my thanks for the many kind comments here, and add that I look forward to working with you in the general election for whomever we select as the nominee.

Sincerely,
Schmendrick

[5thGenDemocrat]

69. From the flip side, Atlant -- though maybe you can't read this

I had a LOT of Dean supporters on my "ignore" list, too, and really had to chop the number down today in order to read the other thread. That's a good thing.
At the end of the day, we're going to have to find a way to work together for the greater good of our country. Maybe our candidate will be Dean. Maybe it will be Clark. Maybe it will be one of the other fine contenders. I'm not psychic -- and I don't know.
I'll tell you this -- I haven't gotten into a pissfest in almost three weeks (since Dec 21) with anyone in the Dean camp. Instead, I've made liberal (ha!) use of the ignore function, and will continue to do so when necessary.
But I'm also going to start "ignoring" folks in my own camp who are simply poisoning the well. All the contenders have these vipers and, regardless of who we each support, it is past time to focus on the real issue at hand -- getting Dopey the hell out of the White House.
Here's to a Democratic victory in 2004! I'm discovering that I don't much care who our nominee is (though I prefer Clark), so much as I care that we don't exsanguinate ourselves in the process.
John
This isn't a football game. This is the future of our country, and it's well past time ALL of us (me included) started acting like it.

[Atlant]

73. I see you just fine. :-)

> This is the future of our country, and it's well past time ALL of us
> (me included) started acting like it.

Amen to that! And include me in your sentiment!

Atlant

[DoveTurnedHawk]

40. He Has Assembled a Fantastic Organization

Chock full of supporters and money.

DTH

[DakotaDemocrat]

41. He's campaigned for the PARTY...

Helping various Democrats in congress races (raising money for them on HIS WEBSITE, campaign stops, etc. ) - that's what a leader of the party needs to do. Be the coattails for the party and do more for the people that you need in Washington to work with you.

I respect him a ton for doing that...BIG TIME...

Overall, he has produced more new ideas and has shaped what the campaigns will look like in years to come...

[LiberalBushFan]

44. okay

Good at hyping up the crowd at rallies and beating down on Bush.

Has the "fire in the eyes" (a good thing).

And he's drawn a lot of new people into the voting population, and I think most of them will be voting for the Democratic candidate no matter who wins the nomination.

[5thGenDemocrat]

45. Sure

He was born into a life of privilege and still chose to do something to make life better for those less fortunate. He could have been (and briefly was) a stockbroker -- but chose to pursue a life of healing.
I sincerely believe that he is running for President in order to improve things for those who don't have his advantages.
He married well and happily (no small consideration).
He was obviously a popular and successful governor in Vermont. He is tenacious and tough and is giving us Clarkies all the fight we want and then some.
His campaign is both brilliant and revolutionary -- truly a model for how we Democrats (and we are all Democrats) will organize and fundraise for our campaigns well into this century. Any honest Clarkie will admit that we admire the fire of his supporters and we thank Dean for showing us all a new way to take on Big Republican Money.
If I can't get the candidate I personally want, I'd have no problem siccing Dean at Dopey (I mean that, believe it or not). Whatever flaws the governor has, wearing a pink tutu isn't one of them.
John
He's not my choice. But he's a good choice.

[Auntie Bush]

46. Loved him expressing his anti war message and

firing up the base. I thank his campaign for getting us to use the internet and collecting campaign funds for us "little" people.

[LoneStarDem]

47. Absolutely

Great from a pure campaigning standpoint, great guy, would no doubt make a great president (plus we could have a real-life recreation of that West Wing episode where the Prez flips out over where his maple syrup came from. Prez Dean: "There better not be any damn NH maple syrup in MY White House!")

I would be more that willing to support his GE campaign.

Plus, I have to admit, I've always had this mental image, ever since I first saw him, of Dean as one of those great classic WWF wrestlers from the 80's (misspent youth on my part, I know). Make the Prez Debates a Steel Cage Match, Shrub can be the heel, "Chimpy McFlightsuit". Dean gives him a mad Atomic Drop, then a clothesline, and maybe some Jimmy "Superfly" Snukka stuff off of the top rope.

"WHATCA GONNA DO, WHEN DEANAMANIA RUNS WILD ON YOU!!!!"

[KittyWampus]

48. Dean Is Scrappy- And I Use The Term Affectionately

and in its best sense. The man doesn't take no stuff!

Coming from priviledge... Dean seems to have looked out at the world and seen other people with different stories and had the heart and courage to explore.

His strong Ego, though a double edged sword at times, has allowed him to fight for some good causes during his career thus far.

I hope that Dean's better Angel is given an ear should Dean get the nomination.... and subsequently the White House. He has great potential to do great good. This is true of all the Candidates, though. It's sort of my personal prayer. :)

[SW FL Dem]

50. Dean has motived new voters

Dean has done an incredible job of motivating and mobilizing people who have never voted or who haven't bothered to vote in recent elections.

[Lurking Dem]

53. He's better than Bush.

[ClarkGraham2004]

55. He has run a great campaign.

[Renew Deal]

56. Dean is motivated.

He stands up for what he believes in.

[windansea]

59. Dean is the frontrunner

because he energized a nationwide base of hard working supporters and an incredible internet based fund raising machine.

[copithorne]

62. I love Howard Dean

At a time in this nation's history when it didn't seem like there was anyone who was willing to step forward and state the simple truth that the emporer has no clothes, that he was starting a war without presenting a coherent reason why, Howard Dean stepped forward.

No wonder he rallied patriotic Americans to answer his call. Heck, I answered his call. I sent him money. I have no regrets about it.

The guy's a leader. He's a straight shooter. He tells the truth in a country in which that has become depressingly rare.

His campaign has revolutionized Democratic Party politics. He'd make a good nominee for our party and I would enthusiastically support him.

Both Clark and Dean to be on the ticket in November. We're just working out which order they will appear in. It's ridiculous to be fighting.

[Shakespeare]

60. "I want you to hug your sister and tell her you love her"

"Dad! Gross!!"

Sorry...I LOVE this thread, but it also cracks me up and reminds me of when my parents would force me and my siblings to "make up" after a spat. :evilgrin:

[The Magistrate]

61. With Pleasure, Mr. Skinner

Gov. Dean is a combative soul, which a good characteristic in a man, and one that is valued and admired by the people. He may prove to be much more difficult to attack effectively during a campaign than is commonly thought, as his instinct is to strike back and stuff an assaultive opponent, and he has some skill at doing so.

[cthrumatrix]

63. as a Dean supporter ...I would like to compliment and thank each of you

and from this point forward ...I am not posting any negative comments towards Clark.

If Dean didn't make it ...I would certainly vote for Clark.

[Rowdyboy]

71. I wish there was some way to shame those

on both sides who post negative (not merely critical, but extremely, viciously negative) comments. Unfortunately, we can't. Thanks for joining good spirited supporters of Dean and Clark who refrain.

[MIMStigator]

64. Dean is why some democrats ARE electable

He's the one who took it to McCokespoon first.

[PatGund]

65. Easy enough to do

Clark's my number 1 choice - but Dean is my #2 choice. He's got vision and fire, seems to care about the people, and would make a good president if elected.

I'd love to see a Clark/Dean ticket, and have Dean become president in 2012 after Clark's second term runs out. Alternately, I'd like to see Dean as either Secretary of Health, or maybe even Surgeon General. :-)

Either Clark or Dean would make a fine choice for president.

[JPJones]

66. Great stump speech

He said the things that we were all feeling. Gep, Kerry, Lieb, etc. did not.

As President, I think he would fix everything that Bush has broken.

I think that he is a compasionate (fiscal) conservative.

He'd be the best dinner party guest of all the candidates.

[Ginger1]

68. I admire his fighting spirit.

[Trajan]

70. This is so easy ....

Dean is a DEMOCRAT who BELIEVES in Democratic Party ideals ...

This interparty harping makes it seem like there is NO consensus between camps ...

All can rest assured: ... ALL the candidates uphold REAL Democratic party values, and will become outstanding Presidents, if given the chance ....

Dean has my vote, if he wins the nomination ....

Clark has my vote, if he wins the nomination ....

Kerry has my vote, if he wins the nomination ...

EVERY Democratic candidate has my vote, if the win the nomination ...

Personality is the icing on the cake: ..

Adherence to DEMOCRATIC PARTY IDEALS ... IS the cake itself ...

Though I prefer Clark for strategic reasons, Doctor Dean has my full support IF he captures the nomination ...

We WILL be unified against the Fratboy and his PNAC Alumni ...

President Codpiece is going DOWN .....

[Tatiana]

72. Dean has brought us back to what the Democratic party is about.

Even if Dean isn't your candidate, he's galvanized Dems to become more vocal and economic participants in the Democratic primary process. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind at a time when our viewpoint wasn't popular with the media.

The party owes him a great debt. Regardless if he gets the nomination or not, he deserves a position in a future Democratic administration or as leader of our party. He knows how to fight and I'm proud he's one of us.

[absyntheNsugar]

74. He's got the cajones to speak the truth

But Dean has always been a great candidate in my mind.

[VolcanoJen]

75. He's mindblowing on the stump.

I've never been a true believer in Dean, but those moments when he's stumping and telling us that we have the power to change America, I'm mystified. He's right, and he's the real deal, and he's been far and away the biggest story and surprise of this campaign so far, and here we are, on the eve of Iowa.

Howard Dean! Who would have predicted that? And he's still probably going to win this thing, if you ask me. :-)

[bain_sidhe]

76. Many things

(edited for typo and a word left out!)

Lightening fast reflexes - I said some time ago that Dean may be the only candidate that could "out-bush" bush - and I mean that in a GOOD way. For all his "mistakes," nobody's really laid a glove on him - or, given his westler's background, I guess I should say, nobody's been able to pin him... just when they think they've "got" him, he wiggles out from under and puts them in a headlock. (OK, that's enough westler imagery, I think. But my nephew's a wrestler, that's the whole goal - breaking the opponent's hold and getting them in one of your own.)

A fantastic core of "true believer" supporters. He'll need more than just them in the long run, but you've got to have a core of "do or die" supporters to start with. I think that was part of Kerry's problem, he didn't have enough of them.

He stood up to Bush on the war when the wind was blowing in the opposite direction, and since then has not only given voice to the anger many of us feel at bush, but has put it in the spotlight, with a megaphone. That's very gratifying to those of us who have been mad since Dec 9, 2000.

Finally, I have to admit, although I'd rather see Clark get the nomination, I have this schadenfreude thing going on in the back of my mind as I watch the pubbies - who I really DO believe tried to pump up Dean because they thought he'd be "easy to beat" - scrambling to backtrack as they realize just how incredibly stupid that strategy was.

[bain_sidhe]

77. As a Clark supporter, I also have to say

I'm glad to see that there aren't many of the "backhanded compliments" that Skinner spoke of in here. And not many in the other thread either. There's a few in both, but I think both threads prove that yes, we really *can* get along if we put our minds to it.

**edited to add a thought**

[DemExpat]

78. I would be honored to vote for him in the November election.

A feisty, good Democrat to kick Bush out of the White House.

:kick:

DemEx

[bain_sidhe]

79. Kick for the after work bunch

Because this has fallen off the front page.

And 'cause the Dean people are beating us 89 to 78 in the "say something nice about the opponent" race!

;)

:kick:

[Bunny]

80. I'll kick it too!

:kick:

[styersc]

81. I respect Dean for looking at an impossible feat-

ie., coming from nowhere to defeat a sitting President and taking a stab at it.

[Marian]

82. This Clark supporter is very impressed

by Dean's position paper on 'Supporting American Workers':



Workers rights are fundamental human rights. The right to form a union is guaranteed by the constitutional right to free association. It is just as important as the right to be free from discrimination.

The American labor movement has allowed millions of hard-working Americans to move into the middle class and create better lives for themselves and their children. Unions have secured basic rights to health care, occupational safety and retirement protection. It is the absence of labor unions in many third world countries that has caused the hemorrhaging of manufacturing jobs from U.S.-based factories to offshore plants. To restore economic growth, we need to strengthen the right to unionize here at home and enforce international labor standards abroad.

<snip>

In every way, I would use the bully pulpit of the Presidency to shine a spotlight on worker’s fundamental rights and mobilize community pressure in support of working Americans. As President, I would be a strong ally in the fight for the rights of workers across the country.



http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?type=page&pagename=policy_statement_labor

[funky_bug]

83. Glad you kicked it

I can easily find great things to say about Howard Dean and am happy to get the chance to do so.

1. Civil Union - it was time for someone to stand up and say, "These are PEOPLE, DAMMIT" (okay, I'll go on record as saying I am paraphrasing the facts, and NOT putting words in his mouth) and Dean had the heart, the guts and the backing to do it.

2. "We are NO safer..." I remember my thought when Sadaam was captured. "Oh shit... how are we going to deal with the gloating administration NOW?" Dean's GREATEST quote (IMHO) to date is "We are no safer..." Why? Because 1. it's true (elevated security level, anyone?) and 2. Because it was the most eloquent way to bitch-slap those grins right off the GOP's faces.

3. Mobilization - I LOVE what the Dean campaign has done to bring the Average Joe (homage to FAUX not intended) into politics... or should I say, bring politics to the average joe. In a world where apathy and lack of understanding puts Nader on the ticket and Bush in the White House, it's absolutely exhilirating the way the Dean campaign has reached out to educate voters who never voted, enable them to be real participants in the political process, and energize supporters of ALL the candidates to BELIEVE in something. He made us realize that we're got the power.

[Josh]

84. He will shake things up in November in a much needed way

Dean has a shitload of supporters that he's bringing into the race and he's not the kind of establishment Democrat who wlil agree with Bush on every issue. He will force them to write lots of articles about him and the campaign will be exciting because he's challenging the status quo.

[Clark4VotingRights]

85. Dr. Dean earned the endorsement of MI Congressman John Conyers.

I think the world of Conyers.

[5thGenDemocrat]

99. Michiganian here

Conyers, hands down, is rightfully the head of the Michigan Democratic delegation. Lord knows I'd love, as a Clark supporter, to have gained his endorsement. And if he says he supports Dean, that's high praise indeed.
John
My congressman, Dale Kildee (D - 5th District) supports Clark. But Dale, love him as I do, isn't Conyers (though Kildee DID vote in 99 percent of all roll calls last session. You gotta love a hard worker - Clark is a hard worker, too).

[Insurance_Analyst]

86. I like Dean's intensity. I just wish he'd moderate on the tax issue.

[MoonRiver]

87. He took the correct and principled position on the Iraq war.

This was at a time when it looked like doing so might just get him shot down, politically speaking. That's why I supported him until the General entered the race. I like Dean and won't bash him but I believe in General Clark more.

[angee_is_mad]

88. white middle-class 20somethings

are energized by an election for the 1st time. That's is good, I guess.

[Turkw]

89. First candidate to find the pulse of many of us in the party

We ARE angry about the abuses that the Bushes (Jeb and W) have gotten away with against voters rights. We are even ANGRIER that the media and been completely intimidated by Bush and lets him get away with murder. Dean was the first, not to point it out, but to stand up and YELL,
WE'RE MAD AS HELL AND AREN'T GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE! I understand why many people are such strong supporters of his. It was more than time for someone to take the fight finally to Bush, and Dean was in the forefront.

[Zero Division]

90. Hard to say anything that hasn't already been said in favor of The Doctor

But I'll say some of it anyway. The fact of the matter is Howard Dean did sign a civil unions bill into law. No one could force him to do so. There aren't that many other Democratic politicians that I would have the confidence in to do the same. We should be proud of Dean's stand on this issue.

And I'm very grateful that Dean has so boldy stood up to the Bush admin. when some prominent Democratic politicians seemed wrongly fearful of alienating Americans by doing so.

I know these statments are cliches, but I sincerely believe them.

[IronLionZion]

91. He's one hell of a fighter

he will not take shit from anyone

[snyttri]

92. Dean would probably not knowingly waste money

[Dr Fate]

93. I share his attitude, to a degree...

...I'm not so sure that Dean's "anger" or passion is such a weak point- he seems like a guy who will stand up to Bush. He seems to be a good DEM and a good man to me...

[tishaLA]

94. Dean is a very experienced, smart guy

who obviously knows his way around the party. He has an amazing ability to get valuable endorsements, but he gets them because he works hard and because he connects with something deep in the psyche of a large number of democrats.

I admire his righteous anger. I like his tenacity. I admire him for not going off on some of the people who fire off faxes about his campaign.

I also admire the ardor of his supporters, who have unfortunately had to dodge lots of bullshit here at DU from some of my fellow Clark supporters.

[Auntie Bush]

95. Looks like Dean needs a few more nice comments

OK here goes. Dean doesn't hesitate to pull his foot out of his mouth when necessary and is very good at explaining why the media and other Democrats are unfair to him. He is really really good.

[Auntie Bush]

97. Sorry---I feel guilty

I guess that wasn't nice. I broke my vow to never say anything nasty about Dean...afterall he was my Gov. for 10 years and I voted for him every time and I still would if he was running. There...that was nice and true too. Am I forgiven?

[David Zephyr]

96. Cheers and Gratitude to All the Very Gracious Clark Supporters.

Your candidate, Wesley Clark, connects with peoples minds and hearts and passions...just as Howard Dean has.

We are all going to need each other this year.

Thanks to Skinner for these two great threads.

Cheers to all the gracious Clark supporters. :toast:

[texasmom]

98. He spoke up for all of us

who have been fighting for years against this administration.

He reminds us that we, plain old ordinary people, can truly bring about change.

I am so grateful for Howard Dean. He has charged this primary campaign with electricity.

[Crunchy Frog]

100. I think that Dean

has an incredible amount of energy and drive. He displayed good political instincts when he was able to find a sentiment to tap into and set his campaign on fire. He has an incredibly energized base of supporters and has displayed a very impressive ability to raise funds.

On top of that, he is a fighter, and will not roll over and let his oponents define him. I have always thought that was one of his greatest strengths as a candidate.

Also, he seems to have been a very effective governer in Vermont and has displayed an ability to work in a bipartisan fashion, which will hopefully help him alot if he makes it to the whitehouse.