Do You Think Howard Dean Is Happy NOT To Be the Nominee?

[Placebo]

I think he is. I mean c'mon, he still gets treated like a rock star wherever he goes, he can speak his mind and say whatever he wants without worrying about the consequences, and he is still a political force to be reckoned with.

Seems like fun to me. :)

[JohnKleeb]

1. I dunno

but I bet this will get ugly. My prediction. My thoughts: I am sure all of the guys and Braun wish they could have been it, but they are no doubt pleased with Kerry. He should be happy though, he influenced a lot of people and is a household name.

[ZombieNixon]

2. You're right

That's how I feel about running for office versus holding office. Running sounds like fun. You can lambaste your opponent for everything before cheering crowds. Holding office sounds like a drag. All that responsibility (unless you're Shrub and have the Saudi's the bail you out.)

[girl gone mad]

3. I don't know why anyone would want to inherit Bush's mess.

But I'm glad we had several viable candidates who were willing to step up.

[WilliamPitt]

4. Yes

Dean didn't like the constraints of the 'Gotta Be Inoffensive' school of modern campaigns. Explains why he didn't take the ball into the end zone (sorry, it's Sunday).

Dean had his "Reagan in 1976' moment during these primaries. He will be back, big time.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

5. I guess, Dean is popular like no other primary "loser" of all time

I hope Dean becomes the DNC chair, I mean he so popular and can raise a lot of money. That would be the perfect job, and he can speak his mind out too. Or maybe he can rune for president again later, I mean a lot of his young supporters will get older and hold more influential jobs...

[Elidor]

7. Dean is cut out for better things than raising money

[ProudToBeLiberal]

8. my point is

that as the DNC chair he will be basically equal to kerry within his own party if he plays it right. I mean the DNC controls the money and where the money flows it's power

[JohnKleeb]

15. and he's a proven fundraiser

You got a point.

[dogtag]

6. Dean's a great American. He could have

gone home to Vermont and semi-sulked, but instead he's out there whooping ass and making sense. It says a lot about the Democratic Party that Howard and Wes aren't sore or even graceful losers, they're working their hearts out for the good of the country.

[IdaBriggs]

10. It says a lot about KERRY that he's able to keep them! nt

[dogtag]

14. Yep, that too!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. Howard has walked his talk

He said he'd support whoever was the nominee, and he has-in fact, Kerry has had his active support.

But don't count Howard down and out. He's building his own political base through Democracy For America. Every one of the local/Congressional candidates he's helped owes him. Dean will be watching Kerry, to make sure Kerry doesn't get bought out by the corporations. Dean will help Kerry make sure that the Democratic Party is not bought out, and stays progressive.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

12. I agree nt

[madfloridian]

20. You make a good point.

He is loyal to those who supported him, and has said that he will expect it from those he supports through DFA. And he will get that loyalty.

[KoKo]

11. He's such a breath of fresh air in our foul winded times...he was too good

for President. We desperately need him...but the timing wasn't right..:-(

Thank our stars he's out there now....

[milkyway]

13. No, not at all. But he's fully into what he's doing right now. Dean seems

to be unusual in his ability to quickly move on without wallowing in the past. But I doubt he will ever completely get over it.

[ReadTomPaine]

21. Dean had some interesting comments about this yesterday...

Yesterday Howard Dean made an appearance on Tim Russert's show and had some very inspiring things to say. He was deeply hurt by the Democrats who lined up to smear him before the nomination, and described how several inside the party came out of the woodwork and donated large amounts of money to funds designed to derail his Presidential bid. At the time he felt so betrayed, in fact, that he questioned why he was in the party at all.

During this difficult stretch, He and Al Gore had several conversations regarding what happened during the primaries. More than anyone else in the party, he felt Al could understand the betrayal & frustration he felt from fellow Democrats. Al leveled with him, telling him to move past the primaries and keep his eyes on the goal.

"This isn't about you, Howard." Gore told him, "It's about the future of this country". What came out of those conversations is the Howard Dean we see today, and I have even more respect for him as a result. It's never an easy thing to feel betrayed by those you represent, but it's even harder to continue to represent and fight for them with untarnished enthusiasm. Howard Dean, however, barely skipped a beat and is one of the few nationally prominent Democrats fighting the ground war at the grassroots in elections across the country. We're very fortunate to have this man in our party and I have a feeling we'll see him run again.

RTP

[Cha]

23. Thank you so much for that...it has me in

tears right now but they are cathartic! :)

[madfloridian]

16. He is thoroughly enjoying himself. Being right does have its good side.

For now he is happy. I do think he has plans for the future. He is building his base carefully now.

At this point in history, he was too right for many people. I think that will change now. He opened the door for our Democrats to be outspoken.

Read his book. He is going to be back.

[Placebo]

17. Would love to see him make a comeback...

someday

[mzmolly]

18. I do think he's "happy" and making good use of the respect he's

generated/generating.

He was RIGHT and everybody knows it now. DFA is a force to be reckoned with (largest PAC ever) and he's only just begun. :hi:

[kaitykaity]

19. At the time I just laughed at people who said

that Dean would get all huffy and take his army
and go form a third party.

I wonder, where are all those people now?

[Cha]

22. On shows I've seen Dean he made a

point to say something like.."I'd rather it was me"..

I got the impression he would really like to be Prez.

But, he is firmly behind Kerry/Edwards..

Dean is working hard unlike bush..