dean weaknessess

[biliyar]

written by a rightwinger, but it will have to be dealt with sooner or later

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/dianawest/dw20030630.shtml

[Egnever]

1. Ruth Dwyer was Deans rival on many things

I wouldnt put a lot of stock in what she says. they have a lot of baggage between them if you know what I mean.

As far as signing the civil unions act behind closed doors. Heres a link to an artcle in one of vermonts gay newspapers.

http://www.mountainpridemedia.org/jun2000/news06_dean%20.htm

a small snipet here on the signing part. Its a great article though if you want a feel for Dean on Gay issues


OITM: Supporters and opponents of the civil union legislation criticized your decision to the sign the bill in private. How did you come to make this decision?

Dean: The state was so divided and there was so much hatred. The majority wanted us to do one thing and the legislature did something else. I had said a long time ago that I was not going to do anything that was going to be “in your face.” The trouble with signing ceremonies is that sometimes they turn into we won and they didn’t. I don’t want to make that happen. We do really need to fundamentally bring the state back together again. We need to become one community. It doesn’t do anyone any good to have further divisions in the state. Had I to do all over again I would have signed it publicly (in front of cameras) but not had a signing ceremony.

[Nicholas_J]

11. Actually

Dena got more support from moderate conservatives than he did from liberal democrats, which is why he almost lost in 2000. SO many democrats deserted Dean to vote for the Progressive PArty candidate, that Dean just Barely ot the required 50 percent of the vote. If he did not, the Vermont Leglislature would have selected the governor by sectret ballot.

[Paschall]

2. Here's some answers

Scroll down to "A Dean's List of Answers"

http://deandefense.org/archives/2003_07.html

[shance]

3. My letter to Diana West

Hi Diana -

It's pretty apparent you have quite a vested interest in perception management, especially when examining the past of Howard Dean. I was interested to see what you had to say regarding the 'dastardly' deeds of the former Governor. I was bored silly by the results.

So, is that it?

Your article only further solidifies the fact that Howard Dean actually (gasp!) cared about the citizens of Vermont, far more than our current president, who is passionately cutting off state funds, not to mention blindly indifferent to the consequences he inflicts on the average American. In my opinion, Howard Dean is more than before, a man of the highest integrity, conscience, and caring.

I can only be lead to assume perhaps there is an ulterior agenda in mind for you, as so many paid off media columnists have these days. If you truly are a seeker of truth, then PLEASE state the truth and don't resort to tactics that give journalists the bad reputation they have often received. Perhaps then you'll be taken more seriously.

[ginantonic40]

4. Pretty slim criticism

Let's see, ms. West is disappointed that Dean didn't perform any abortions. Damn, now we can't call him a murderer.
Sealing political records? I don't think this is an issue that Bush really wants discussed too much, do you?
High percentage of Medicaid recipients? Well yes, that would be how universal health care would work. If I recall correctly Vermont recieved about the median per capita of Medicaid payments, about the same as Texas.

[muchacho]

5. Death Penalty

The link to Dean Defenders does touch on a problem, the only one really, I have with Dean. His take on the death penalty.

I think the resons for Dean's reversal are logically inconsitant and believe he changed is position to pro-DP to gain political clout.

I think he is right to change his position to get elected, but as a physician his creed is to "..do no harm" (Hypocratic oath) and therefore he is willing to trade is beliefs for whatever is politically expediant.

[PATRICK]

7. Clinton was consistent for limited DP

The issue will be consistency although that is pretty weak unless it CAN be wedge among his supporters. I'd say no way. Same with gun laws and other issues. But his statements will be parsed for consistency until something or a slew of little somethings builds an image they want. Knowing that however is knowing the slant of the deck you must walk in choppy seas.

LBJ was a good Democrat ruined by his acceptance of Vietnam strategy. Dean has no such great ruinous flaws. Nor do the other electable Democrats and most of the no-chancers.

[polpilot]

6. No problems here. All questions quickly and easily answerable.

Dean '04

[lakerace1]

8. This is mean, just mean!

quote from article.....And speaking of controversial issues, is the Democratic Party ready to unite behind a leader who, as a med student, performed his OB-GYN rotation at a Planned Parenthood clinic? Vermont magazine reported on this in 1998, adding: "While he has never performed an abortion himself, he is strongly pro-choice and certainly understands the medical procedures involved." Which must rate as the medical equivalent of not inhaling....

come on now can't we all just get along?

[genius]

9. Why did he seal the governor's records?

We've criticized Bush (and rightly so) for doing likewise. It sounds as if he's hiding something. Dean's main problem is that he takes too much credit for the work of others. He stole his number one line from a dead man. He took credit for the civil unions bill he had to sign and he has made it clear he won't sign one at the federal level (thereby working both sides of the issue). He took credit for health care funds provided by the federal government. He isn't talking about the fact that Vermont's unemployment rate is 3 percent higher than the national average.

[Larkspur]

10. FDR stole Herbert Hoover's idea to use government funds

to offset the Depression. That's right, it was Herbert Hoover, not FDR, who initiated government work programs at the beginning of the Depression. FDR during the campaign said that he would discontinue those government work programs. Did he? Nope, he took Hoover's idea and enlarged it because the crisis demanded the solution.

Dean isn't the first candidate to borrow other's ideas, but Dean can market progressive policies to moderates better than progressives can.