The Ghost Of Howard Dean

[andyrowe]

Truth, the final third rail.

I wanted to start with, "A spectre is haunting the Democratic Party," but instead let me begin by saying that my boy Dean is alive and well, doing more for our party for anyone I can think of. (Oops. I mean anyone of which I can think.)

I'm writing this because I fear there is perhaps a concerted effort being undertaken to pick away at Obama supporters who in '04 supported Dean in the primaries or have come to rightfully admire and respect Dean's effectiveness as DNC chairman.

An example...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4380353

The actual '04 primary "Usama" ad to which this post referred to can be viewed here...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=V1DqOwP3Xzc

There is no Dean/Obama rift. The exact opposite is true actually. It is widely accepted that Dean's position as head of the DNC beyond November is dependant on Obama winning the nomination, even given his amazingly effective execution of a 50-state strategy. Like the battle raging now for our nomination, blood has been spilled between Dean and the DLC.

I submit that there are too many who are willing to press every advantage, even attempting to capitalize on the similar spelling of two names that simultaneously represent our nations greatest fear and our greatest hope.

The chorus of cynics is becoming louder and more dissonant. And as power realizes the true seriousness with which change is confronting it, anything will be said; even at times cloaked in feigned ingnorance of the truth.

I for one will not forget what Dean did for my country. In '06 Dean didn't take back the congress. He made us believe we could take back our congress. I am confident too that were he not heading the DNC he would express his belief that Obama will make ordinary Americans realize that more than taking back the White House, ordinary Americans can also take back our vision of the great things that are possible and our steely resolve to make it happen.

How bittersweet that, unlike certain leaders of my party for whom my years of continued support has caused me great anguish, the two greatest inspirers of my beliefs place the integrity of the office which they hold and of the party they fight for above the MSM's thirst for strife and division by withholding their endorsements.

Know this my fellow DUers. Dean's campaign didn't die with a scream. It died weeks before on December 1st, 2003 when Dean said this to Tweety.

“Yes, we’re going to break up giant media enterprises.”

Part of me cringed when I heard this knowing it was the end and that the MSM would tear him limb from limb for even suggesting it. And part of me smiled to hear something that most ordinary Americans knew should be done yet most pundits knew was a death sentence to utter.

Obama speaks to the part of me that smiled.

[sandnsea]

1. The ad was soundly condemned

and taken down very quickly. There hasn't been anything like it out of the Obama campaign so it's clear Gibbs learned his lesson anyway.

And the flier that outline the anxiety people are going to have over mandated insurance is nothing like the Dean/Osama ad. In fact, the lies the Clinton people told in their fliers are much closer to the Dean/Osama ad, hmmm.

[andyrowe]

2. The post is about the divide and conquer Clinton strategy.

I understand the ad was deplorable. Everyone here does.

The post was about the dividing of supporters of two powerful upstarts that threaten the DLC establishment wing of the party. Like Dean, Obama has incurred the wrath of dinosaurs who can't even see the asteroid of hope headed right for 'em.

[karynnj]

4. That poster is most definately not a Clinton person

Her point is well taken that that ad was up only very briefly - and has likely been seen by FAR more people via the various internet links after Dean's loss when it was used as a reason he lost.

Part of this is because it is a convenient scapegoat. The alternative is to read accounts from Iowa, that speak of how the candidates interacted one to one with people, where Dean was not the best. Or to look at last debate before Iowa when Dean spoke of not wanting to be a pin cushion. Another was to look at what was on TV about 3 days before the caucuses - the Kerry reunion with the guy whose life he saved in Vietnam and Dean telling an obnoxious heckler to "sit down". The former was an incredible emotional moment and in a time of trouble what would be a better image than a tall, strong man who risked his life to save this man. In addition Kerry had the firefighters, who helped enormously.

2008 actually eliminates some myths. Clinton clearly had the state Democratic organization and came in third. Dodd had the firefighters and came in below 4th. Clinton had some of the excellent field people Kerry had. It would seem that who the candidate was matters and a huge part of the credit for Iowa win was that Kerry worked extremely hard and one to one impressed a sufficient number of people. He also did it with almost no real press coverage, other than comments on when he would drop out - after Iowa or after NH. If the powers that be wanted him as the next candidate, I would guess it was because they thought no one could win and they could blame a loss on the liberal "Kennedy" wing.

[andyrowe]

5. The devisisve politics of yesterday are ending.

Bam!

[karynnj]

7. politics by nature are divisive

You are the one that brought Howard Dean into this and assume that Obama is the heir to Dean. Dean was more like Edwards on that dimension. There are - even percentage wise) as many ex-Kerry primary voters behind Obama as ex Dean voters.

You coming in, throwing a bomb, then saying not to be divisive is pretty strange.

[andyrowe]

9. I'm wasn't saying Dean likes Obama over Edwards.

The majority of DU knows Edwards was perhaps our best candidate. I bet Dean knew that too.

I was saying that anyone who tries to play up a rift between Dean and Obama are distorting the truth.

Was that the "bomb" you were referring to?

[karynnj]

10. I was referring to your bringing up the various grieviences of Dean in 2003

including the email.

The Majority here did not think that Edwards was the best candidate. That would be one over 50% - no candidate ever had that support here in the last 3 years. What I am saying is that you as a Edwards/Deaniac seem to not see that many good liberal Democrats picked Kerry in 2004 and Obama in 2008.

I most certainly do not see Edwards as our strongest candidate. He was a weak candidate in the 2004 primaries and he did no better this year. In the 2004 primaries I want Dean or Kerry, but by the middle of January I was far more impressed by Kerry. That was after reading their books and investigating their records.

[andyrowe]

3. And yeah. The Outrage! Depicting a couple...

going over their health insurance plan at a kitchen table as if everyone didn't know ordinary Americans go over medical policy papers in the bathtub. With the lights out.

[Adelante]

6. Didn't DFA support Obama's US Senate race?

He was among the first dozen, I recall.

[andyrowe]

8. That is what I thought.

Here's to you WesDem. :toast: