This Dean supporter's opinion

[pasadenaboy]

If Dean doesn't win the nomination (its pretty clear he isn't winning tonight) than we will go into the general election running the same DNC big money/big donor campaign (which the republicans are more successful at) against the republicans. We will run as far right as possible to be centrists, and blur the line that makes us democrats. We will talk about working families, but not the unemployed, We will talk about the middle class, but not the poor. We will talk about being "tough on terrorism" but not about how our actions lay the foundation for terrorism in many cases. We will talk about how the US is safer now that Saddam is in custody, even though we all know it isn't true. We will pretend that the vote on the IWR didn't matter, even though 500 young americans are dead because of the hubris of our politicians.

And if we win, what will we have really won? the same tired political system. The same lack of vision, the same fear of change and a new path. The same talking democratic pollsters and campaign people. More Donna Brazille, More James Carville, more triangulation.

Maybe that strategy will work, but I don't think so. And even if it does, and that's what we have to do to win, than I don't know if its worth it.

ON EDIT: I'M NOT SAYING I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THE NOMINEE. I'M JUST LAMENTING WHAT THIS ELECTION WILL TURN INTO.

[Jack_Dawson]

1. Clark is also an outsider - join us

I mean it.

[IndianaGreen]

18. Clark is indeed an outsider

and he is not part of the Beltway bandits that gave us PATRIOT Act and the IWR.

[Guaranteed]

37. You've gotta be kidding

He's DLC. He's CLINTON'S man!

[IndianaGreen]

79. He didn't vote for IWR or for PATRIOT and...

Clark was not born with a silver spoon on his mouth like Kerry.

[George_Bonanza]

63. Wellstone also approved of the Patriot Act

[IndianaGreen]

80. Wellstone is dead!

Who knows if Wellstone would have repented of his PATRIOT vote? We will never know if Wellstone would have voted for IWR, but Wellstone is dead and he is not running for President.

[shance]

98. Really surprised and shocked by that blunt remark......

and even more disappointed.......yes hes dead but if you knew Wellstone, you would know what he stood for.

You didnt help your candidate with that last statement Indiana, and I usually like what you say.

[wellstone dem]

100. Paul Wellstone

A few weeks before his death, Paul Wellstone courageously put his political career on the line and voted against the war in Afghanistan. It was predicted this would hurt him in his campaign for reelection. Not surprisingly, Minnesota polls respected Paul for staying true to his principles and people respected that integrity even if they did not agree with the vote. He moved up in the polls, not down. Then his plane crashed. I doubt he would have voted for IWR.

[jonnyblitz]

82. MIC lobbyist is inside-the-beltway n/t

[MODemocrat]

35. I'll be joining the Clark campaign if my candidate drops out

and I won't have any qualms about it. This caucus does not determine the winner of the nomination, so I'll continue to support Howard Dean until it's over. Kerry will come out the winner in Iowa tonight, so congratulations to him. :thumbsup: :dem:

[kerry-is-my-prez]

57. We will welcome you with open arms... You will all have a while to go yet

though...

[newsjunkie]

94. I'm standing with Dean too

Kerry's a good guy but he just doesnt do it for me. Dont know why exactly. Whats up with his wife at the rally? She looks all pissed off or something.I sense weird body language there.

I just love Dean's spirit and bluntness and honesty,and the fact he can shape and lead a new Democrat party that the people have an actual part in.
On to New Hampshire and let's win there!

[fishguy]

2. talk about sour grapes

please
Dean lost big.
All you need to know.

[Paragon]

3. spam

[Cuban_Liberal]

No need to be nasty about it.

Why rub it in? I'm sure he knows as well as anyone does.

[youngred]

27. considering the attitude that *many* Dean supporters

but by no means all, have been copping here in regards to others (some saying they were taking names of Deans opponenets for payback after he gets the nom) that kind of backlash isnt surprising

[polpilot]

69. As a Dean supporter I support REAL change not that which requires a

magnifying glass. I wretch when I see the get along crowd who have no problem bombing children, camels, and sheperds 8,500 miles away.

Dean '04...

[jonnyblitz]

83. that isnt sour grapes.

its an opinion many of us share.

[newsjunkie]

96. No,Gephardt lost big

Dean placed third in the first battle, and he can go on and still do it. I hope this will put to rest all these silly fluctuating polls.They are meaningless and unreliable.

[Shakespeare]

4. I wouldn't include Carville in that dis, if I were you.

Take a gander at his new book--there's no triangulating, just tough, focused, traditional democratic policy proposals.

ALL of the candidates would do well to give it a thorough read.

I also disagree with your implication that Dean is the party's only salvation--we have an excellent field of candidates this year, and I'll be proud to vote for whomever gets our nomination. Sorry, but I just don't share your fatalistic outlook.

[Sterling]

9. Yeah he was great on Crossfire NOT

I think everyone deseves a trial, JC does not.

[rumguy]

5. You have to be ABB - it's the only logical position....

you feel down, that's ok, but don't give up the fight!

[jpgray]

6. Dean is also a corporate, insider candidate

I don't think his candidacy is over by a long shot. But I wouldn't pretend he is something along the lines of Ralph Nader or Dennis Kucinich. Dean is from blue bloods, and has a lot of big donors and political connections. That's not a big deal for me, Kerry my other favorite in this race. But I don't pretend Dean is something he clearly isn't.

[Sterling]

7. I will sit this one out.

I will not bother to help a pro war person get elected. I am not as naive as some here.

[wyldwolf]

12. Have fun in Bush's second term, then!

Actually, I would prefer to NOT have the backing of far-left purists. We'll more than make up for them in independents and swing voters.

[Sterling]

46. Good luck

4 more years of Bush for sure with 2 pro war candidates. I am already getting used to the idea. So should you.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

70. 60% of all Americans want a pro-war person, & a big chunk of Dems do too

DUers are very non-representative.

[bitchkitty]

74. Guess that makes us visionaries. n/t

[The Magistrate]

13. But, Mr. Sterling...

"If you don't vote for the right lizard, the wrong lizard might get in!"

If you do not support the candidate of the Democratic Party in the fall, whoever that might be, what you do is assist the vistory of the reptile who commenced the war in the first place. An odd way to vindicate anti-war and left principles, that....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[IndianaGreen]

23. Why vote for lizards in the first place?

This is the time to vote for anyone that did not cast a vote for PATRIOT and for IWR.

[jpgray]

32. If you let the worst lizard win enough times, you won't have a vote (nt)

[IndianaGreen]

36. What's the point of having a Democratic President if...

he keeps PATRIOT Act and continues the war?

I want a change in policy, you are asking us to accept a mere change in personnel!

[The Magistrate]

44. There Are Other Concerns, My Friend

The state of the nation's finances and the judges of its courts comes to mind. So does the prospect of prosecution for the various thefts and such that have been so prominent a feature of the current administration....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[kerry-is-my-prez]

76. Do you REALLY believe that any Dem would keep the Patriot act as is?

No way....

[IndianaGreen]

106. Yes, I do believe a Democrat would keep the PATRIOT Act...

because it is power! PATRIOT gives nearly absolute power to the President. Nothing corrupts more than power, and as Lord Acton reminded us, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Read about Attorney General Palmer, a Democrat that served under President Wilson, and see how power corrupts everyone regardless of party affiliation. J. Edgar Hoover was a protege of Palmer's.

[The Magistrate]

33. This Is The Time, My Friend

To vote for whoever offers the best prospect of kicking the jackanapes out of the oval office in the fall. No good can be done till that is achieved; all else is secondary to it.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[CabalBuster]

50. I'm with you IndianaGreen I won't vote either

Call it tough love if Bush wins reelection. Americans have to learn that war is not the answer and that the country (and the world) won't be safe with a Bush-Lite in the White House. The Democratic party has to change from within and neither of the pro-war, pro-status quo candidates can offer anything new. Call me a heretic, but perhaps Nader will enter the race now.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

85. They didn't learn from the last time. What'll make it different this time?

n/t

[Samantha]

39. I might be sitting there with Mr. Sterling

because I don't see a lot of difference between a Bush* and a Bush* enabler.

It's great to see you posting here again.

[The Magistrate]

41. As A Matter Of Curiousity, Ma'am

What constitutes this "enabling" you speak of?

The formulae of words so glibly employed to justify lending assistance to the criminals of the '00 Coup in the general election conveys no meaning to me. Surely not voting against the reptile "enables" him as well?

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[Sterling]

49. Come on

Give it a rest. Don't pretend Kerry did not vote for the IWR and Patriot act. Maybe you have bigger fish to fry but not me. The buck stops here. Enough of the scared bunnie rabbit do nothing dems. Sir.
:eyes:

[The Magistrate]

61. My Candidate Is Gen. Clark, Sir

Though Sen. Kerry would be more than acceptable to me.

It is always useful to be able to do simple arithmetic in political questions. The Republicans hold majorities in both houses of Congress, and maintain a cohesion in their wielding that would do credit to any parlimentarian organization. The majority can do as it pleases, without let or hinderance from the minority: that is how the system is designed, and that is how it operates. Your expectations, Sir, are quite unrealistic.

Of more concern is your stated intention, to sit on your hands rather than to actively oppose the current administration yourself in the upcoming election, if not tickled just right behind the ears. How is this different from what you denounce others for, Mr. Sterling? How is this not an enabling on your own part of the current administration, Sir? How is this going to do anything but ensure the most virulent possible execution of those things you claim are anathema to you?

[Samantha]

71. No, I wasn't asked to sign the petition of the Congressional Black Caucus

but I would not have signed had I been asked. Kerry uttered words to that effect immediately following the vote of the Electoral College in 2000. My first thought as I heard these words was that Kerry threw the Democratic voters to the wolves because he planned to run in 2004. He adroitly knew he had a much better chance of beating Bush* in 2004 than an incumbent Gore. When he sent his compatriot Barney Frank out to publicly ask Gore not to run, "Get out of Kerry's way," he failed to exhibit any of that true fighting spirit he claims in the Vietnam War arena in our political arena. Kerry is all about Kerry.

Thus when I review these last three years with Bush*, I always think of our coterie of Democratic leaders who silently allowed Bush* to steal the election and start the dismantling of our Constitution. Bush* did seize it, but he couldn't have successfully done so if they had not permitted it. Even more unbelievably, these same people voted with Bush* on many controversial issues. And that's why I fail to see a great distinction between Bush* and the Bush* enablers.

Beyond that (though admittedly, I cannot move beyond that), had it not happened, I would refuse to support Kerry because of his vote on the war. His contorted explanations did not conceal the fact he was merely playing politics (once again) to advance his own personal, political ambitions at the expense of the integrity of the American public, as well as the lives of thousands of innocent Iraqis.

Bush* might be a lizard (to use your term) but Kerry wears alligator accessories.

[The Magistrate]

78. The Term Is Not Mine, Ma'am

But from the late lamented Mr. Douglas Adams, in a "Good-Bye, And Thanks For All The Fish" homage to the celebrated conspiracist Mr. Ickes, who proposes that, among other thjings, all the rulers of this world are reptiliod aliens who only appear as human....

It seems to me that you do not place the blame in a reasonable manner for the current state of the country: that rests at the feet of the criminals of the '00 Coup, and nowhere else. In my view, to refuse to strike effectively against them, on any ground, is to lend support to them, and it is impossible for me to regard it in any other wise.

[Samantha]

87. I see it as abstaining

The root motivation for voting is to cast a preference for someone who represents your interests. If no candidate does, abstaining from voting allows those who truly do have a preference to decide an election.

Over the weekend, Kerry was shown addressing an Iowa audience. A very sincere gentleman, much like you, asked a question concerning Congress delegating its authority to Bush* in signing the Iraq resolution. He quoted the Constitution, which of course specifically reserves the right to declare a war to Congress. Kerry's response to this anti-war voter was a lesson on the War Powers Act. Further, Kerry reviewed other Commander-in-Chiefs' acts of deploying troops without the consent of Congress. The fact of the matter is an Act of Congress does not trump the Constitution. The Constitution can only be amended through a literal amendment. While we all are fully aware that no one really enjoys this process, the process of amending our Constitution, it is a deliberately tough thing to do because the framers of the Constitution wanted it that way. For Congress to pass a piece of legislation contrary to the words specifically found in our Constitution does not mean it amends it, it means it circumvents it, and everyone will look the other way. Bush* as Acting Commander-in-Chief, and I do mean acting, has the Constitutional authority to assemble the military if the United States is ATTACKED; he has no Constitutional authority to declare a war, and a pre-emptive one at that -- despite any resolution to the contrary Kerry, Gephardt, Lieberman and Edwards might sign.

Kerry's response to this very sincere anti-war voter only reinforced my resolve to never support this man. I am not a literal Dean proponent, but I am an ardent anti-war proponent. Stop Gore. Stop Dean. Stop anyone that does not agree with The Agenda. For me the choice is clear. If I cannot find a true distinction between the candidate the Republicans run and the candidates the Democrats run, I will allow the vote of the people by those who can see a difference to determine the Presidency in 2004. I will abstain.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

101. Damn.

Succinct yet powerful.

[The Magistrate]

105. No, Ma'am

The root motivation for voting is not to secure someone who represents your interests: the root motivation for voting is to prevent the other side from imposing on you in its interests. People vote in far greater numbers against what they think inimicable to themselves than they do in favor of what they agree whole hog with. It is far more important to balk the designs of the enemy, particularly when these are so vile as those of the present crew of miscreants in office today. In this situation, to abstain is to support the other side, for it reduces the force in the field against them, and thus makes their victory easier of achievement.

"An election differs from a civil war only as the bloodless surrender of a force outnumbered in the field differs from Waterloo."

[kath]

109. YES, Samantha. Each Congresscritter that voted for the Blank Check

Resolution effectively violated their oath to uphold the Constitution.

[kath]

108. Samantha, I share your outrage that NOT ONE single senator supported

the CBC in challenging the Florida electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2001. I am still utterly disgusted by their cowardice.

#@*!#@&*! tutu-wearing spineless Dems!

Then add to that all those that voted for the Blank Check Resolution---ARRGGGGGHHHH!!


Yes, I'll vote for ABB. But the thought of voting for someone who voted for the Iraq war, the PATRIOT Act, the tax cut, etc, etc, really disgusts me.

[alarimer]

60. yes

Can you imagine what 4 more years of the Bush junta will be like if they have don't have to deal with being reelected?? They will be so much worse it will make your head spin. Let's stay focused people!!! Vote ABB, even if you have to hold your nose to do it!

[shivaji]

84. It may be better in the long run if Boosh beats a pro-war dem

because of the simple reason, the next time, we will
run a REAL democrat, one who represents the "democratic"
wing of the party!

[Clark Can WIN]

20. Way to help prop up the big tent there!

I hope you will see the necessity of removing Bush as ultimately the most important thing on the agenda. Can't loose all the big games this year.

[Democrats unite]

25. So you would rather see 4 more years of Bush?

eom

[shivaji]

86. Yes, ONLY because next time we will have a real democrat

nominated who will represent the "democratic wing" of the party.

[shance]

99. I may be with you on this one Boomer****

When are we going to STOP REWARDING BAD LEADERSHIP!!*******

[mmonk]

8. In a way

I agree with pasadenaboy. I think you're seeing some of it now.

[wyldwolf]

10. "and blur the line that makes us democrats"

News for you: Dean is as big a centrist as any of them.

And the democratic party has never been as far left as you think they have.

[blm]

14. Kerry's record is CLOSEST to Wellstone's record of all the candidates.

Longtime liberals should be thrilled tonight.

[youngred]

22. well

except for Kucinich, but yes

Kerry is my number 2 and would love to see him go all the way

[polpilot]

72. I'm sure our Iraqi brothers and sisters are dancing in the street!

Dean '04...

[mitchum]

97. This longtime liberal is very thrilled tonight

[WilliamPitt]

21. ...and Kerry has the best liberal record in the race

[IndianaGreen]

26. I'll take Clark over Kerry!

I am sorry, but rooting for Kerry is like rooting for your beloved Red Sox.

I am a Yankee fan!

[Leilani]

34. Go Yankees!

Raised a Yankee fan; hate the Red Sox, & the Bruins.

[dreissig]

90. Kerry's Liberal Record

Kerry voted for the war. There's nothing liberal about that. Other votes on other issues pale in comparison to that one.

If Kerry is the most liberal guy we've got, we're really hurting.

[juajen]

103. Indeed he does

He also fought against the BCII (?), you know the big bank that filtered all the CIA money, trial in the dock in London? Sorry if I got the initials wrong, and I can't for the life of me remember what the initials stand for; but, I do know that Kerry was and is against that ratpack. I think he is a good candidate and if Clark stumbles, I can easily support Kerry or Edwards.

I think our choices are great. I think Dennis Kucinich brought a great deal to this campaign and am hopeful that he will run for the Senate in Ohio or be in someone's cabinet. Sincere congratulations to Senators Kerry and Edwards and to Governor Dean. BTW, I really liked Mrs. (Dr.) Dean, but she really needs a hairstylist; nothing drastic, just a little upsweep, maybe? Expect we'll see her a little more in the coming weeks.

[youngred]

31. Biggest Centrist short of Lieberman

Dean is NO kind of Liberal

[Toot]

11. I fell exactly like you do pasadena. And it's ....

heartbreaking.:(

[Guaranteed]

It's bullshit, is what it is.

Green Party, anyone??

Never thought I'd say that. Seriously.

[wyldwolf]

42. See ya!

[youngred]

15. How do you know that?

Dean does not hold the monopoly on liberalism (far from it in fact) nor on opposing Bush.

[sendero]

62. No...

... but on opposing Bush*, everyone else just followed his lead. I have no problem with imitators, except when they try to act like they are not.

Clark is looking better and better :) But I think it is a bit early to write Dean's obit.

[youngred]

81. he's not the first, not the only nor the loudest opponent of Bush

but he has been getting the most publicity for it.

Clark is looking better, but Dean is not out of it for sure

[kerry-is-my-prez]

16. I think they realize that the Dean people are a force to be reckoned with.

Everyone's been paying attention...

[bitchkitty]

17. Makes me cry.

If he doesn't win, it will be the final heartbreak in a string of them.

[many a good man]

38. Get used to it...

I've picked the losing candidate in every primary going back to Teddy in 1980. Get yourself up off the floor, there'll be plenty more heartbreaks down the road. The number one thing is

NO MORE BUSH*!!!

[Eccho]

19. It's just too sweeping a generalization

to say that there is no difference between Bush and anyone besides Dean. There is just too much at stake this time to be defeatist. There are differences. We would have been better off with Gore, and we can't even imagine how much worse off we could be with another 4 years with Bush. I know there are some disappointed people tonight, but keep your eyes on the prize. It's just too important.

[dreissig]

91. No to Kerry

Kerry just isn't different enough from Bush. The Democratic Party has a choice, and so do I. Don't nominate Kerry.

[Trajan]

24. Cmon you guys ...

Stop whining ....

Sheeeesh ...

[Samantha]

45. Where can one go to COMMISERATE about a pro-war candidate

winning in Iowa, if not here....

[polpilot]

75. The lines are truly blurred. Democratic pro-war candidates win in Iowa

where 75% claim to be opposed to the war. Reminds me of Kucinich of late.

Dean '04...

[milkyway]

28. Politics as usual triumphs again nt

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

29. you said it all

tonight's results mean we'll have a year full of oprah kisses and leno motorcycles and short on substance

and if people bought into the "dean is unstable" media smear so easily, will they accept whatever personality hannity and friends assign to kerry and edwards in the coming weeks?

it coming, people. they'll turn on whoever pulls ahead

at least in dean we had a guy who would figh it

[Sterling]

54. You are 100% right

By that time I will only be here to say I told you so.

[polpilot]

77. Seabiscuit!!!!!!!!!!! Seabiscuit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Seabiscuit!!!!!!!!!

Dean/Seabiscuit '04...

[cid]

30. Its ONE caucas..there are 49 other states

Why is everyone acting like its over for everyone but Kerry and Edwards? At least wait a few weeks and see what happens next. :)

[shoopnyc123]

40. Yea but it's sad...

that Dean isn't at least second. This says a lot about where America REALLY is.

[LatinManNH]

43. Dare I say..Dean right again?

Dean was criticized for a comment he made yrs. ago about the Iowa caucuses and how they reflected special interests (one of the precinct caucuses was held in a Kerry supporter's house!). With all the wheeling and dealing going on, with voters trading delegates like they were baseball cards, the results in Iowa may differ greatly from the upcoming NH primaries, where voters go to the polls as they would during a regular election. We'll see next week. I wish I could be there, but am out of the country until March. :-(

[NewHampster]

47. I hope you sent in your absentee ballot

[LatinManNH]

52. Done did.

[sendero]

68. as I mentioned....

...in another thread, I think this cost Dean a lot of votes. Fact is, his comments were correct IMHO. And his defense was weak. I would have said "don't hate the player, hate the game", and been done with it.

In any event, if there are tough lessons to be learned, better to learn them now when errors are still recoverable.

Now that Kerry's the front-runner, let's see how he handles the media shit-storm that is headed his way :)

[dreissig]

92. Iowa Loses Credibility

Kerry is too out of the Democratic mainstream, as I perceive it. Either that, or I'm too far out of the Democratic mainstream. Either way, Kerry is too far away from my political beliefs. He's somebody I do not want to see as president.

He's not even Mike Dukakis or Walter Mondale. He's Hubert Humphrey.

[David Zephyr]

48. Cheer Up, Pasadena_boy.

Or else I will have to take you out for some beers and dinner at the Twin Palms.

Our candidate, Dr. Dean will do better in the Primary contests to come where he has a lot of advantages (money and organizations in all 50 states).

Let's give Senators John Kerry and John Edwards their deserved credit tonight. They ran very good campaigns.

So cheer up or I'm taking you to Twin Palms or Gordon Biersch for some beers!

:toast:

[pasadenaboy]

58. If that's the case,

then I'm not cheering up! :)

I can't even drink, I'm on antiboitics from having my wisdom teeth removed. Maybe that's why I'm so grumpy.

[dreissig]

93. Kerry's Campaign

Whatever Kerry did, it's sneaky. We're being blindsided here. Inside of a week, Kerry goes from being far back in the pack to winning easily.

I don't care for his values. He voted for the war, and I can't bring myself to reward such an act.

[Walt Starr]

51. You may not be saying it, but I am

Nobody But Dean.

If the Democrats can't see what they've done to themselves, fine. I will not support them.

[rumguy]

53. Don't shoot yourself in the foot, it has to be ABB all the way!

[Sterling]

56. Only for the shallow.

To those who know it is more than just Bush.

[rumguy]

59. There's a world of difference between Bush and a Kerry or an Edwards

[Walt Starr]

88. Well, you're entitled to your opinions.

Mine differ from yours.

[Walt Starr]

65. Nope, ABB is unacceptable to me

If Dean does not win the nomination, 2004 will be the first presidential election in my life that I will not vote for the Democrat.

[LibInternationalist]

55. psst... ANYONE IS BETTER THAN BUSH

[Walt Starr]

67. But a hell of a lot are exactly like him

ABB is not acceptable to me. This year I either vote FOR somebody, or I just plain don't vote.

[loudnclear]

64. It's NOT over yet! Dean is still a very viable candidate.

The grassroots will prevail. I only wish they would choose Kucinich.

[polpilot]

66. No change...only a ticket of 'pro-bomb the Iraqis' would be left. Choice??

Dean '04...

[Tom Rinaldo]

73. It is rude to ask Dean supporters to switch

If my candidate, Clark, had what could be seen as a set back, I sure as Hell wouldn't want someone from another camp trying to welcome me into theirs within minutes of the news. Only one contest is in the books in a small non representitive state, this thing is not over.

What I would say to a Dean supporter is, fight for what you believe in, in the manner that makes most sense to you. If that is sticking with your guy, then by all means do just that.

All of us may need to at least think about moving on to another candidate before this is over. If so, we should do so when we are ready to, if at all, not before.

But none of us should by myopic. No one candidate, not mine, not anyone's, has a patent on equality and justice.

[jmaier]

89. Well stated, Tom

This is especially no time for any Clark supporter to be making gestures. We haven't won anything yet. We need to simply keep focused on our mission!

[Bucky]

95. To quote Ann Richards, "it's just an election"

I don't think we should treat a losing candidacy like a death. I don't really think it's rude to lobby a supporter to come over as soon as their guy loses, or even before. The whole point of us arguing on this website for our candidates is to pull more folks over to our side.

If Clark has to drop out at some point in the nomination process, I expect to have people on this site from the still viable candidates jockeying for my affection. I look forward to reading their pleas for me to join them, as I wipe away the tears.

[VelmaD]

102. I am going to explain this...AGAIN

There is a very good reason you vote for the Democrat even if you think there is no real difference between them and Bush (I'm not gonna argue with you on that even though I think you are wrong). It's so you have some say in how your country is run. If Bush wins this election I can guaran-damn-tee you he WILL NOT listen to anything you or I or any other Democrat has to say about how this country should be run.

But there is the possibility of influencing whatever Democrat wins. Frankly I didn't see much difference between Clinton and the Rethugs sometimes but where we as Democrats fell down on the job was in not supporting him against the rethugs when he needed it and in not holding his damn feet to the fire on really important issues. We have a chance to fix that this time around. Hold your goddamn nose and vote for the Dem - but when he wins realize that your work JUST STARTED. It is NOT ENOUGH just to elect a Dem. We have to work every single day after they are elected to get what WE want done. We have to remind them that they won because of us and THEY OWE US.

[eileen_d]

104. Excellent post - Kudos to you!

Thanks for reminding us that it doesn't end in November!
:toast:

[exJW]

107. why on earth...

...anyone ever thought Dean was/is not just more "business as usual" is beyond me.

He's just another politician, and not an exceptional one at that. And he's been "just a politician" for quite some time.

Some people just got caught up in a movement, and it became bigger than them. But also bigger than their candidate.

[cindyw]

110. I think you will be surprised. Those of us not on Dean's side

are not a part of the DNC big money campaign. I for one have donated in 20 dollar increments. I think if you give your fellow democrats a chance, you will find you have more in common with us than not.

[flaminbats]

111. actually Dick Morris was the master of triangulation...

Now I know why Dean waited on introducing his tax-reform plan...he hopes it will help to revive his campaign, for a final surprise in New Hampshire.