Democrats owe a debt to Dean (Mark Shields)

[WillyT]

<snip>

His opponents for the Democratic nomination are indebted to Howard Dean for making them better and sharper candidates. Dr. Dean nearly performed a vertebrae transplant on his rivals, with challenges like, "Most importantly, I want my party to stand up for what we believe in again," and, "The deal I'm going to make you is this: If you make me the Democratic nominee, I'll make you proud to be Democrats again," and, "If you're going to defend the president's tax cuts and if you're going to defend the president's war, I frankly don't think we can beat George Bush by being Bush Lite."

For millions of Democrats dispirited by their party's fear in the 2002 campaign at being branded by Bush as "soft on terrorism," Howard Dean gave them hope that they were not alone. It was Dean, according to my notes, who condemned "companies (that) are leaving the country to avoid paying taxes or to avoid paying people livable wages.

And corporations are doing this with the support of the government and a political process in Washington they rent -- if not own." Sound familiar? And after terminal constituency-coddling from countless Democratic candidates, it was refreshing, at last, to hear a leader challenge people to make an "America where it's not enough for me to want health care for my family but the obligation of every one of us as American citizens to ensure that each one of us has health care for our families."

It's not just "Are YOU better off than you were four years ago," but instead, "Are WE better off -- are the strong more just and the weak more secure -- than we were four years ago?" Nobody made Howard Dean, after doubts had been raised about his presidential temperament, stand up in a Des Moines hotel ballroom and act, in the acerbic assessment of former Wyoming Republican Sen. Alan Simpson, like "a prairie dog on speed," but his campaign must not be confused with that one episode.

<snip>

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/29/column.shields.opinion.dean/index.html

Thanks Mark, I agree!

I've been trying to imagine what this campaign season would have been like without Howard Dean. Maybe Dennis Kucinich would have been featured more prominently, but I doubt it. He was gonna be marginalized as a 'minor' candidate by the media whores no matter what, I fear. But if Dean hadn't stepped up to the 'national plate' and publicily captured the anger (and the hearts) of many many Dems around the country over the War in Iraq, and the unfairness, even dangerousness, of this current administration, I wonder which of the 'major' candidates would have stepped up to that plate.

Not trying to be provacative here, thought provoking maybe, but I really wonder what the last year would have looked like without Dean. Would Clark have still entered the race? Would we have taken the War off the table? Would Gephardt have done better?

I really don't know, and I'm not writing off my man just yet, but either way, I'm damned thankful to have had a guy stand up, with passion and anger, and SPEAK FOR ME!!!

Thoughts?

:shrug:

[Jacobin]

1. Shields is right on.

[onecitizen]

3. Amen.........

the primary has already become boring with Dean more or less out of it now. I've lost my hope again.

[Cha]

4. No worries! Don't let the media

decide who is out and who isn't.

And Dean is Very Much in this thing, btw!

[polpilot]

14. Vertebrae transplant . Hmmmmmmmmmm...

Dean '04...

[NV1962]

2. My thought? Looks like a barely reworked copy of MM's letter

...to encourage Dean supporters - here:

• As one who does not support Dean, I would like to say this to you: DON'T GIVE UP. You have done an incredible thing. You inspired an entire nation to stand up to George W. Bush. Your impact on this election will be felt for years to come. Every bit of energy you put into Dr. Dean's candidacy was -- and is -- worth it. He took on Bush when others wouldn't. He put corporate America on notice that he is coming after them. And he called the Democrats out for what they truly are: a bunch of spineless, wishy-washy appeasers who have sold out the working people of America. Everyone in every campaign owes you and your candidate a huge debt of thanks.
  
  <major snip>
  
  But in the meantime, let's tip our hats to Deaniacs everywhere. They've set the tone and the bar and have jump-started the movement to save our country. Good friends in the Dean camp, please don't give up. We need you now and we will need you in November. And, to Precinct 83 Captain Kelly Chambers, all your hard work has NOT been in vain. We cannot win without you.

Be that as may, it's still true. Howard Dean truly sparked off the widespread resolution among Democrats to defeat Bush, and that's something to thank him for, unreservedly.

[Monte Carlo]

5. Moses may not follow the Jews into Caanan.

Just a thought about Dean and the energy he has created in the party.

[Auntie Bush]

16. That was beautiful

and I agree with everything you say. That's why I was all for Dean until I heard of Clark and was afraid that Dean couldn't beat Bush and I didn't trust the establishment...can't believe they are winning.
Maybe Kerry will stumble! But anyway...thank God for Howard and I always wanted him as second choice. The media destroyed him as he did nothing wrong and now many are repenting.

[mzmolly]

6. Yep. I do hope that we continue to make history.

Dean in 2004! :toast:

[joeybee12]

7. Absolutely true--but if Dean drops out, who will be there to prod the

eventual nominee? I fear Kerry, Edwards and even Clark (the only three with any chance besides Dean) will get cautious. It happened to Al Gore--when he got angry, his poll numbers went up. If he had been angry through the fall, he would have won in a landslide. He started listening to the media, and to his handlers. I can see this happening yet again--I really doubt that the Dem leadership has learned anything at all.

[kaitykaity]

8. Dean gave the Democratic Party a "spine transplant".

Once the followers (Kerry, Edwards, Gephardt) realized that their voters wanted to hear some serious Bush bashing, they were all over it like the FITW politicians that they are.

But the guy with the guts, courage, and leadership to stand up and scream "No More" was Howard Dean. We do owe him for that. Big time.

[joeybee12]

9. Yes, but is the transplant permanent, or will the donor reject it

eventually?

[kaitykaity]

11. That's why Dean has to stay in this thing for as long as he

possibly can. I do think that rejection will set in just as soon as the Doctor leaves the field. We can't let that happen, no matter what.

[blm]

10. Shields didn't read Conason in 2002.

Kerry Shows Courage In Challenging Bush
Thursday, August 8, 2002 By: Joe Conason

New York Observer

>>>>>>>
But it was John Kerry who delivered the most interesting, substantive and challenging message. His subject was George W. Bush's shortcomings as a world leader.
The New York Times reported that Mr. Kerry "offered a long attack on Mr. Bush's foreign policy," although the paper gave short shrift to the details in the Senator''s speech. What he began to articulate was a Democratic critique of this administration''s blunt and myopic unilateralism, and a vision that restores international alliances to the center of American diplomacy.

He agrees with the objective of removing Saddam Hussein, but objected to the vague plans for what will replace the Iraqi dictatorship. He called the latest arms treaty with Russia a "cosmetic" one that inadequately safeguards decommissioned weapons. He denounced the "Cold War" approach to North Korea that has undone the progress achieved by the Clinton administration. He expressed scorn for the administration''s disengagement from the Middle East crisis before Sept. 11.

>>>>>>>>>>
There is, however, at least one benefit for Mr. Kerry in speaking out on those faraway places and problems. While his rivals sound as if they''re campaigning for the offices they already occupy, he sounds as if he is running for President.

In a sense, Mr. Kerry enjoys an unfair advantage that mitigates the burden of his home state. He''s a decorated Vietnam veteran whose Navy service may help shield him from attacks on his patriotism. Throughout his years in the Senate, that credential has allowed him to investigate and criticize disturbing excesses of American policy abroad, as he did when he probed U.S. aid to the contra gangsters in Nicaragua. (That rather lonely crusade made him a target of the notorious Arkansas Project, funded by Republican billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife to bring down President Clinton.)

Whether Mr. Kerry can engage the electorate in a discussion of America''s global responsibilities is far from certain. His own dispassionate style may hinder him. Yet he deserves great credit for reclaiming international leadership for his party when others cannot or will not.

*******************************************************************
And here's Dean around that same time propping up Bush, and refusing to acknowledge Kerry was right for attacking Bush's leadership failures.



 MR. RUSSERT: Do you believe the military operation in Afghanistan has been successful?
       
       GOV. DEAN: Yes, I do, and I support the president in that military operation.
       
       MR. RUSSERT: The battle of Tora Bora was successful?
       
       GOV. DEAN: I’ve seen others criticize the president. I think it’s very easy to second-guess the
       commander-in-chief at a time of war. I don’t choose to engage in doing that.

[joeybee12]

12. Thank you for taking one speech, and one brief exchange and rewriting

history.

If you Kerry people keep this up, I'm going Green!

[WillyT]

18. Ya Know What's Strange, They Don't Seem To Care, Hmmmm...

:wtf:

[blm]

31. It wasn't just one speech. Kerry was attacking Bush that entire year, but

the media wouldn't give him the attention. Why? Because Kerry's attacks on Bush were TOO substantive and would be damaging to Bush if given proper coverage by the media.

Dean's later critiques were trumpeted because they weren't damaging to Bush as much as entertaining for the media due to his equally harsh remarks against other Democrats.

[Eloriel]

35. Then how 'bout digging up some transcripts,

or Senate speeches for us? Start a new thread with your research 'cause I may not get back to this one. You make that claim all the time, but I haven't seen anything other than your assertion. Where's the beef?

[blm]

41. The beef is in the archives here from 2002

where the biggest thread battles were which one was hitting Bush the hardest, Kerry or Gore. Surely that jogs your memory?

[WillyT]

38. blm... In Some Ways, You May Just Be Right About That, But...

that was part of Kerry's, and all 'serious' candidates, problem.

I remember when Kerry would speak of GWB's shortcomings, but when his remarks could get covered, he delivered his 'serious concerns' in his Senatorial monotone which tended to make most folk just shrug their shoulders. It just sounded like he was doing the Loyal Opposition thing.

To use the Emporer Has No Clothes analogy:

Kerry would be the kid in the crowd that tugs on his mother's dress as the Emporer walks by and whispers into hear ear, "Mommy, the Emporer has no clothes."

Dean OTOH, would be that obnoxious kid who just blurts out loud, "Hey, the Emporer is NAKED!!!"

The crowd would be red-faced, and horrified by the impropriety of the second kid, but the second kid would be the one that got the buzz going, and as more and more people turned to look, they would see that the obnoxious kid, was absolutely right!

And... He would make it acceptable for everyone else to speak the truth out loud.

So Kerry gets permission to speak truth to power in a more forceful and animated way (Thank You, Doctor), but retains his 'serious' Senatorial stature, and THAT is why the polls\votes have flipped totally. In the end, the crowd still wants its propriety.

:shrug:

[kaitykaity]

39. This is a pretty good explanation of what happened.

It rings true. Thank you. :hi:

I really like the part about Dean being the obnoxious kid who screams it out. That's funny.

(Maybe post this by itself and see what people think? Get some of my fellow Dean supporters nodding 'yes, yes'?)

[WillyT]

43. LOL !!! --- Yep, Just LOVE That Obnoxious Kid !!!

:hi:

Feel free to use that post in any way you deem appropriate!

BTW - I'm still supporting Dean too. Will be sending some $$$ as soon as I see my next paycheck!

:bounce::kick::bounce:

[kaitykaity]

44. Paycheck? What's that, you lucky dog.

Yeah, I'm with him to the bitter end, if there is a bitter end. I still hold out hope for him, that the changes in focus (not frontrunner, new campaign manager, etc.) will get him back in this thing.

As far as using your idea, thanks. I'll give it a shot.

:thumbsup:

[WillyT]

47. Hey, I Did My 14 Months Of Being Unemployed After 9\11 !!!

Ran out of UI benefits after 9 months. But luckily landed a job with the State of CA right before their hiring freeze. Thank god!!!

So you see, Howard Dean was speaking DIRECTLY to me and my anger. And it was MUCH appreciated!!!

:hi::bounce::hi:

[kaitykaity]

13. Link?

Plus, Dean always supported the military action in Afghanistan, so bringing that up is a nonstarter.

[blm]

32. It wasn't about supporting the action, it was about Bush's LEADERSHIP

of the military and his strategy.

At the point of the exchange with Russert, Dean HAD to know then that Bush failed BIGTIME at Tora Bora, yet he couldn't bring himself to say Kerry was right. So he sided with Bush which TOO many Dems were doing and which kept Bush's leadership numbers artificially high since so many Dems were propping him up.

[kaitykaity]

37. Link? Show me. Don't just tell me.

If it was Kerry who was anti-war, then why did the anti-war Democrats fall in 'love' with Howard Dean? We on DU would have known if it was Kerry, not Dean, who was the 'real' anti-war candidate, wouldn't we?

The action in Afghanistan was justified. Too bad Bush muffed it, but then again, Bush muffs everything he touches. Dean supporting it doesn't negate the fact that he has been the one candidate to take it to Bush, to stand up to Bush, while the Finger In The Wind congressional Democrats were shaking in their shoes at the thought of such a thing.

[blm]

40. It was Dean who backed up Bush's LIE that Tora Bora was a success

and propped up the public perception of Bush as a strong leader.

Why deny it?

You have to google to find a link as I only have the full article which cannot be printed.

The MTP transcript would be available at their site.

[kaitykaity]

46. I'm not 'denying' it. I'm saying it is irrelevant.

Even if he did exactly what you say he did, which you have presented no evidence to substantiate, I think the bloviators on talk radio backed up Bush's lies suffiently for everybody. As did the spineless congressional Democrats who cozied up to Bush and voted 'yes' on his disastrous Iraq war.

You present the case, you need to present the evidence. I'm not going to do your work for you.

[patricia92243]

15. Now if the press would sound even half this way, Dean will be our nominee

[kayob1]

17. Nice article

Thanks for posting.

[WillyT]

19. You're Quite Welcome Kayob1 !!! --- And Welcome To DU !!!

:hi::bounce::hi:

[calimary]

20. Welcome to DU, kayob1!

And, on the other topic - I still am a Dean supporter, and it's because he was the only one yelling when I was yelling. I think it's absolutely true that the other candidates have amped up their attacks because HOWARD DEAN showed them you can get votes that way. Howard Dean showed everyone on this side of the aisle that it's COOL to stand up to bush. He showed that it's NOT unpatriotic or unAmerican to stand up to bush. It was Howard who showed everybody that it is MORE than okay to question and dissent when crap is going on all over our country by dictator wanna-be's who wrap themselves in the flag as they condemn us. Howard still has my heart. I may have to vote, eventually, for someone else, but Howard will still have my heart. None of them has fired me up like he has. Even now.

[RetroLounge]

21. performed a vertebrae transplant on his rivals

most who well needed one...

[WillyT]

22. Going, Night Night, Kick !!!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............

:kick:

[Lexingtonian]

23. No

This is a classic the-chicken-and-the-egg problem. Who came first, the grassroots masses finally showing some resistance to abuse who supported a fiery politician or did the fiery politician bring spine to the masses....

Dean was the one who raced to the front of the massing parade, and enough of it followed him to make it look like design.

[ibegurpard]

24. I don't think Dean would dispute that

Put a little less crassly.

[scarletlib]

25. Thank God for Howard Dean

He articulated what millions of us have been feeling. I beleive he is an honest, decent man who will try to do the best he can for this country.

He has my vote as long as he is in the race. I will not abandon him.

I think that if he becomes our candidate he will kick the gop's flyboy big time!

[Darth_Kitten]

26. I've always liked Mark Shields.

It's too bad that a fickle electorate is not rewarding Dean the way it could.
He was speaking out on issues when it wasn't politically correct to do so. Just LOOK what he really did to the democratic party? :) :thumbsup:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

27. Michael Moore already made this point

Dean got this started. He really deserves 80-90% of the credit for the fire in the Democratic race now, with the president getting the rest. It is very easy to imagine a pathetic Dem contest with the typical namby pambyism if not for the Dean candidacy. People clustered just to the left of Lieberman, with a mandatory mumble about what a great job the president is doing at every speech, "but I think we can do better." Dean and Kucinich really got things going by being very clearly anti-Bush (even if you had no idea what Dean's positions were, you knew he was AGAINST BUSH), but Dean is way more important because he showed that you can raise a lot of money and even be the front runner because of this, and THAT is what really got this going. Because that proved that there was fire in the electorate, in US.

The tinder was there because of Bush. Dean lit the match.

As Moore said, Dean is Moses. Even if he never gets to the promised land, he is still Moses.

Win or lose he also gets the Nobel prize in political campaigning for two innovations to be discussed in another thread.

No matter what happens in the primaries or GE, God bless you Howard Dean for what you've done for all of us.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

28. Of all people

I actually heard Howard Stern making this same point on his show, about how Dean gave the other candidates the courage to speak out against Bush and how it was sad how a completely silly insignificant incident like "The Scream" deflated his candidacy. Since Howard probably did as much as anyone to help crucify Dean with "Scream" audio this sadness had very little credibility, but the statements were still true.

[Paulie]

29. You honestly think Dennis needed the courage to speak against *

Seriously?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

30. No

Referring to the others (except Joe L)

[candy331]

34. Now I would like to know if the election does

turn out pretty much the same as 2000, will Kerry stand up and fight or will he just move on? I suppose he will have to take his marching orders from DNC and DLC and if they want him to move on what will he do? It is one thing to fight against Bush but will he then fight against the insiders like he himself is? En-quiring minds want to know!

[Paulie]

42. Thanks! It's interesting that Dean always has to qualify "Except Dennis"

It's almost like Dean* where * is "Except Dennis"

It's funny, but telling, don't you think? :)

[Merlin]

33. Howard is one for the History Books -- even if he totally strikes out.

Shields is correct to equate what he's done with what Perot did. Only Perot was so nutty -- and so independent -- that his own party (Repugs) disowned him forever.

Dean is a genuine folk hero. He will be admired and honored by intelligent, thinking people of all political stripes long after this year, no matter what happens.

Howard Dean is a great man. We will always be grateful to him for his courage, tenacity and resourcefullness. He makes me proud to be a Democrat.

Having said all that, I also know that it's over for him in '04. Sadly, but unquestionably, he'll be swamped in the coming weeks.

[Eloriel]

36. Don't be so sure

You might want to check out:

1. The new Game Plan and

2. The fact that he's still raising money from loyal supporters at an AMAZING clip.

[MAlibdem]

45. I agree

And I think Dean should run for the House of Representatives. Who could make a better majority whip? I just don't think he'd make a good president

[WillyT]

48. One Last Kick Before Work !!!

:kick:

[arewethereyet]

49. I think Dean owes Democrats a debt

about 40 million that he took and squandered because he could not control what he said from day to day.

Thats an astonishing amout of trust to mistreat.

[WillyT]

50. Back From Work, Goin Ta Bed Kick !!!

NOT gratuitous mind you...

:)