A LTTE in the Montpelier, VT newspaper

[JaneQPublic]

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041228/NEWS/412280359/1022

Dean had it right on Iraq

December 28, 2004

Your editorial marking the year anniversary of Saddam Hussein's capture was a good one. It would also have been the one year anniversary of Howard Dean's remark that the capture of Saddam "doesn't make us any safer." Is there anyone who would disagree with the accuracy of that judgment?

But what was the reaction to Dean's statement at the time? His fellow Democratic candidates, led by John Kerry, attacked him for defeatism. They claimed that statement proved Dean's unworthiness as a leader and reinforced his reputation as a "loose cannon." Nobody in the Democratic Party establishment had the courage to admit that just maybe he was right.

Dean and the rest of the anti-war movement got a big reward for being right— they were completely shut out of the proceedings at the Democratic convention while a candidate who didn't know where he stood on Iraq took them all down to defeat.

Dixon Steele Barre

[janx]

1. Yikes!

That letter writer didn't bandy words, eh?

[madfloridian]

2. Dean was right, but look at the attacks on him....here are two.

http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/23037508.html

SNIP.."Kerry stepped up his attack on Dean on Tuesday, arguing that the former Vermont governor is unfit to be president because he dismissed Saddam's capture Saturday as unlikely to improve U.S. safety.

"Those who believe today that we are not safer with his capture don't have the judgment to be president or the credibility to be president of the United States," Kerry said in a speech at Drake University in Des Moines...."

AND Lieberman was sickening in his joy over the capture

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/dems_12-15-03.html

Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., a staunch supporter of the war to oust Saddam, was effusive in his comments.

"Hallelujah, praise the Lord. This is something that I have been advocating and praying for for more than 12 years, since the Gulf War of 1991," the presidential contender said. "Saddam Hussein was a homicidal maniac, a brutal dictator, who wanted to dominate the Arab world and was supporting terrorists."

Lieberman said that Saddam should face the death penalty and should be tried before an Iraqi or U.S. military tribunal. Lieberman further urged that the United States seek more international cooperation for the rebuilding effort in Iraq.

Lieberman also criticized front-runner Dean for his criticism of President Bush and the war. On Monday, Lieberman said Dean is in a "spider hole of denial," a reference to Saddam's underground hideout and Dean's assessment of the capture's impact."

I read that letter this morning, and I see it made that person as angry as it made me. The way his fellow Democrats attacked him was ridiculous, bordering on stupid. It insulted our intelligence.

[JNelson6563]

3. One of many opportunities we'll have

to say "Howard Dean was right."

Julie

[Kolesar]

4. Wasn't the DNC-2004 a waste?

Hours of leadup just to tell us that Kerry served heroically in Vietnam. No leadership on energy policy, no attacks on Bush unless it was Al Sharpton's off-the-script remarks. Two months later, the republican bastards did not spare any attacks.