ZW's Credit Due Thread: Howard Dean on "Countdown"

[Zomby Woof]

Chairman Howard Dean, in his first appearance on Keith Olbermann's "Countdown", did a masterful job getting the message out there we need to hammer repeatedly: The Republicans are great at winning elections and terrible at governing. The Democrats are better on national security, as FDR and Truman were cited as evidence. We need a fundamental change in Congress. The administration is ridiculous. North Korea and Iran are getting worse. Iraq, Rumsfeld, Bin Laden, the 'war on terror', Katrina - are all evidence that the Republicans are failures. They cannot get anything right. We cannot trust the Republicans. We have to be tough and smart. The majority of Americans know that Bush is dishonest. Dean was relentless with this message; his delivery was direct and resolute, without equivocation.

Keith Olbermann was the right interviewer too, asking good questions and letting Dean say what he needed to say. The tone was right, the message was on-target, and the venue was as good as he could have hoped for, considering the hostile environs of the likes of "Hardball" and the Sunday morning chat shows. For all the proper attention given the Rumsfeld segment and the Bush-pretending-to-read story, I think it should be noted that this was the best part of the program. Dean proves that we the Democrats do indeed have a message, and we are indeed prepared to govern after taking the elections in November.

I have had my differences with Governor Dean in the past. I was not enthralled with him as a presidential candidate. That does not matter now. The past is the past, and deservedly dead and buried. I am firmly of the opinion that being chairman of the DNC suits him like no other official position he has held. After the embarrassment that was Terry McAuliffe, Dean does make me proud to call myself a Democrat, and eager to work for their imminent reclamation of Congress, and once again, restore the proper checks and balances on an executive branch that is shamelessly craven, hopelessly incompetent, intoxicated with power, and saturated with hubris.

Thank you, Chairman Dean.

[NYCGirl]

1. And thank you, ZombyWoof, for your post.

:thumbsup:

[sutz12]

2. He did do well....

Nice to finally see some of that "Liberal media", eh? :)

[saltpoint]

3. I second your thanks to Howard Dean. I like him as our Chair & hope

the 50-state strategy has a long, long trajectory.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Too bad I didn't see that.

I did see the KO closing peace over at C&L. Most impressive.

When we gonna have another ZombieWoofian hug-a-thon, d00d? Ain't seen one of them in a while. ;-)

[Zomby Woof]

5. Keith's Special Comment is deservedly praised

It was worthy of Murrow. I LOVED it. Turning Rumsfeld into Chamberlin!

But as a regular interview segment, the Dean segment deserved singular mention. :D

Well... I can give you a hug here. ;-) :hug:

[juajen]

10. You two are sooo cute!

This is a good time to tell you both how much I enjoy your posts.

Mr. Olberman was great tonight; but as has been said, looking through time's spectrum, his eloquence would have been seen as normal.

I love to point out that I was "Olberman" before "Olberman" was cool. So, there. T'was a great show. I loved seeing Howard Dean on Countdown. He was so good.

[Zomby Woof]

12. I have loved Olbermann since SportsCenter

:D He is one of the best of the best!

[Egnever]

6. Weee!

Well said.

It almost makes me forget the rounds I went with you in the past over this man. Glad you have finaly come arround.

I only wish you had seen the good in him sooner. Better late than never though!

Go Dean keep giving em hell!

Yaaaargh!

[Zomby Woof]

7. I stand by my past decision

I acknowledge my past views, and they have not fundamentally changed. It's a matter of me thinking that many public officials are better suited for some offices more than others. I always gave him credit for being an effective organizer and fundraiser - which are part of what makes him a great DNC chair. I always stated I would support him unconditionally no matter which office he was elected to or chosen to occupy. I did not prefer him as a presidential candidate, and probably would not do so again if it should ever come to pass, but at least next time I would be less confrontational, or less oppositional. I learned something from that painful journey. ;-)

Having said that, I was glad he was chosen as DNC chair from the gate, not just because of the "Countdown" segment, but because I was of the opinion that heading the DNC was always his best potential fit based on the qualities he demonstrated as a candidate.

I will continue to support our party and his stewardship of it as long as he serves. :toast:

[Egnever]

8. You do yourself proud.

Every time I see bush on TV I think of what could have been if Dean hadn't been railroaded. But you are right He does make one hell of a DNC chair. Had he been elected I am not sure the groundwork he is now laying would be going on, so in a way I can look at it now and think of it positively. My only wish at this point is that he didn't have to fight his own party so hard to lay that ground work.

Thank god the man is a fighter and continues to fight for what he believes in.

In all honesty I look back on the rows during the primaries with fondness now. You were a ferocious advocate of your candidate at the time and while I had my own horse your enthusiasm was admirable if not agreeable to me at the time !

Great post!

:applause:

[Zomby Woof]

9. There's a reason a donkey is our symbol

:7 Stubborn fighters, lol. Sometimes to a fault.

Peace! :hi:

[EST]

11. K&R

Dean did a superb job, as he does so often that one grows to expect it as the normal.
It is almost a shame that Keith turned is such a stunning performance that it just swamped anything else, no matter how good.

Wow--so inspirational that it almost makes up for the crushing banality offered up lately.