Dean's education enemies list

[Justice]

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/01/06/deans_education_enemies_list/

"...HOWARD DEAN'S timing in adding a new layer of bad guys to his expanding list of evil, nefarious, Bush-cowed "Washington politicians" -- those who supported the first whopping changes in federal public school assistance in more than a generation -- was as interesting as it was foolish..."

"Harkin has praised Dean's magnificent grass-roots campaign, but there is pressure inside the state to avoid coronation politics because it undercuts the arguments for keeping Iowa first in the nominee selection process. Now, Dean's blunderbuss assault on education reform has possibly provided another argument...."

"...Politically, Dean had a chance to join with Democrats in Congress this month to fight for the money for public schools that Bush has left out of his budgets, breaking the promise he made when the reform was enacted more than two years ago. The vote on education money is scheduled in the Senate for Jan. 20. That kind of step by a supposed front-runner for the presidential nomination would have illustrated a candidate in the process of closing the sale, broadening his appeal, reaching out to the rest of the party. Instead he lashed out at the Democrats like Kennedy and Harkin -- as well as important House fighters such as George Miller of California -- for supposedly being "co-opted by Bush," as he put it crudely in Sunday's debate in Des Moines...."

[ClintonTyree]

1. Sometimes...........

the truth hurts. In the past 2 years Democrats have pretty much rubber stamped the Bush agenda. There are exceptions, and Dean may have unnecessarily stepped on a few toes, but facts are facts.
In my opinion, if Dean HADN'T been shooting his mouth off so much, the Democrats would be in a much bigger hole than they're in already. He's brought an entirely different tone to the Democrats' challenge to Bush. If it weren't for Dean constantly exposing Bush as the inept buffoon he is, and prodding the Democrats to finally act like they've got a pair (sorry CMB), the challenge to Bush in 2004 would be at a far greater disadvantage that it is now.
Love him or hate him, Dean has sparked the Democrats into thinking that they may actually be able to stand up to Bush and WIN.

[Justice]

2. Tricky Balance

to speak out against Bush and his policies, without alienating Democrats in Congress and Democratic voters. In some ways, Dean is doing to Democrats just what Bush has done to Democrats.

I believe that Dean banks on one theory - if Dean is the nominee, Democrats will vote against Bush - and therefore he Dean has the latitude to say just about anything.

What this editorial says is that Dean now had the chance to turn the corner and bring the party together - and he chose not to take that path - instead, he took the old familiar path of criticizing Democrats for being co-opted by Bush.

Does it not concern anyone that Dean seems unable to separate Democrats from the true enemy?

[ClintonTyree]

6. When Democrats act like Democrats.............

I don't think there's a problem. When they act like an additional appendage of Bush's body, maybe it's time to yank their chain. 2 years ago, everyone on DU was decrying the Democrats pink tutu approach to the Bushies. Now we have a little fire in our bellies and I think Dean is largely responsible for that, good or bad. Sure, he makes mistakes and often shoots off his mouth before he's engaged his brain, but he's also ignited a fire in the left that was sorely missing 2 years ago.
Dean is far from perfect, but I give him credit for turning around the "Bush is unbeatable" mind set that was prevalent just a short time ago. He has been, by far, the most vocal antagonist to Bush, and without that big mouth of his, I don't believe the other candidates would have taken the stance that they're taking right now.
Like I said, love him or hate him, he's re energized the party and given Democrats the will to attack Bush and his policies. Without Dean, I think the tone of the race would be far meeker and subdued, relegating Democrats to nothing more than shoeshine boys for the GOP.

[blm]

3. The bill was funded when they voted for it.

Bush did not follow through with the funding. Those senators also went after Bush for it and have an issue to beat him with...he lied about fully funding the bill. Bush is the one to blame.

BTW...here's how Dean chose to back up criticisms of Bush by Kerry back in July 2002. He really set the tone. Kerry had spent months going after Bush's failed strategy at Tora Bora that allowed Bin Laden and most of Al Qaeda to get away. Dean backed up Bush.


 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.

[JNelson6563]

4. but will the rain hurt the rice in China?

About as relevent as your lame quote.

blm, do you put any value on credibility? I've wondered that often lately.

Julie

[blm]

11. It was appropriate to the post I replied to.

Why have you turned so personally mean against me? I don't attack you personally.

[Cheswick2.0]

8. the bill sucks, I hope they never fund it

The fact that it an funded mandate is not IMO the main problem with the bill. Scrape it and start over. For students sake do not fund it.

[mouse7]

15. Because combat troops were currently engaged in a battle

blm, do you think that Dewey should have criticised FDR about Pearl Harbor while the bombs were still falling on Pearl Harbor, too?

Our troops were sill actively engaged in combat in the Tora Bora area at the moment Dean was speaking to Tim Russert.

Dean should NOT have commented on THE TACTICS of an ongoing military operation.

[blm]

18. Baloney...Tora Bora happened months earlier.

Kerry had been talking about it for months and HE was given the info by military brass who WANTED it known that the Defense Dept. was trying to keep the failure from the press.

Why do you defend Dean from something he was TERRIBLY wrong about?

And, if you accept that was a reason for Dean, then why would Dean not continue to act on that same purported principle while troops are in Iraq? He supported use of force there, too, so where is that principle you CLAIM he was displaying?

[Democrats unite]

5. Birds of a feather flock together!

eom

[Jerseycoa]

13. Best Line

"right-wingers and small-state minds like Dean's"

[sandnsea]

9. Dean has never hurt Bush

Dean doesn't hurt Bush one bit. Nothing he has done has hurt Bush. The cockroaches hurt Bush on Medicare. The cockroaches will hurt Bush on NCLB funding. The cockroaches have hurt Bush on not funding homeland security needs. The cockroaches hurt Bush on the 9/11 investigation. Every single thing that has come out against Bush has come out because of Kerry, Edwards and Gephardt.

Dean is a wannabe. The further out in front he gets, the less impact he has, and the higher Bush's polls improve. If you want to take Bush out, you need somebody with credibility. Dean has none. He is seen by most Americans as part of the looney left. The only reason he does well in national polls is name recognition amongst Democrats, which is still not enough to beat Bush. Last year, when Kerry and Clark were seen as frontrunners, there were actually polls with them beating Bush. No more. Thanks Howard.

[mouse7]

16. Yeah, that why Dean is within 5% points of leading Bush head2head

[Cheswick2.0]

7. Dean did not mention Kennedy and Harkin

Gephardt in another sleazy move tried to imply that he did.

No Child Left Behind as a piece of legislation is bad news. It was a good slogan gone bad when the democrats allowed this union busting child punishing public school destroying crap legislation to be passed.

[Jerseycoa]

10. Justice

You need to fix your link at the very end.

[Jerseycoa]

12. Yep, his own worst enemy

"Dean decided to reiterate a position he has held for a long time, adding fresh Democrats to his enemies list and continuing to make it hard for those Democrats who remain uncommitted to see a reason to support someone so casually contemptuous of their hard work. Dean is indeed the front-runner, but his temperament and behavior are keeping the rest of the field alive."

[Hep]

14. co-opted is right

They're guilty of granting Bush's premise. They're not talking about whether or not to get rid of the hideously ineffective NCLBA, but rather whether or not to fund it. Sorry, guys. You're asking the wrong question.

Dean is right AGAIN!

[adadem]

17. blunderbuss

"Now, Dean's blunderbuss assault on education reform has possibly provided another argument...."

Ok, maybe I'm dumb but I had to look that one up

blunderbuss
SYLLABICATION: blun·der·buss
NOUN: 1. A short musket of wide bore and flaring muzzle, formerly used to scatter shot at close range.
2. A person regarded as clumsy and stupid.