A HUMBLE question for Dean supporters

[ShaneGR]

So people showed up to vote in record numbers in Iowa tonight. That was something the Dean people said was very important, getting people involved in Democratic politics. Now, Dean didn't do so well, but I'm already seeing Dean supporters talk about monied interests taking over (Despite Dean having the most money) and not supporting the nominee.

My question, is this just knee jerk or something we can expect to hear (in the event Dean doesn't get the nomination) for months to come? I like Dean (But I like others more) and I'm happy to see anyone participating and backing anyone. But I'm a bit concerned by the language of some Dean people.

What do you think?

[mdmc]

1. NO

No

[cthrumatrix]

11. double "no"

[LSdemocrat]

2. I wouldn't put too much into tonights comments

People haven't had time to reflect, and people's emotions get in the way of reasoned thinking.

Many ardent Dean supporters have put in many long, long hours into winning Iowa, they feel frustrated at the attacks Dean has recieved from nearly every front. Now their emotions are at a boiling point, they're (me included) going to vent before getting back in gear (hopefully tomorrow), so I wouldn't be too worried about tonight's results.

An example: In 1992, I was a Tsongas supporter, and for a month or two after Tsongas dropped out, I hated Bill Clinton (I was 11 at the time, so forgive me). By the convention, I loved the guy.

[Cassandra]

3. I think there was something in Slate

that said that a REALLY big turnout wouldn't be good for Dean because that would mean there was an outpouring of voters who've been recently energized, and if they get to the caucuses themselves, the candidate with the big ground operation loses that particular advantage.

[arewethereyet]

4. people are upset, I mean come on...

how would you feel ?

A little slack is in order.

[kcwayne]

5. Dean's money doesn't come close to the media's

which has pummeled him the last two weeks. Now the media will turn its attention on Clark and Kerry, and we can all get our jollies watching them squirm on the national stage.

Its divide and conquer folks. While Democrats are ripping each other up, they are doing nothing but delivering ammunition for the right wing to echo and amplify those sentiments repeatedly in every newspaper, radio, and TV news station in the country. You just watched it happen to Dean. Now watch it happen to your candidate.

Democracy is slipping out to sea while this is going on, but who is paying attention?

[Jackson Smith]

7. "The media" has put Dean on the cover of every major magazine

over the past few weeks. He has gotten the endorsements of Gore and Harkin, what more could the guy want?

[kcwayne]

12. Gore and Harkin are not the media

and the media has been putting out constant diatribes about Dean's unelectability, his bad temper, the lack of support of his wife, his comment that we are not safer after Saddam was captured, that Osama should be given a trial, and on, and on.

If you have not picked up on the brutalizing he has received, you are not paying attention. But here is the point, if you like Kerry or Edwards, you will become sensitized to the message distortion.

In two weeks, these guys will look like punching bags. They will have to spend alot of time defending themselves, and will lose track of whatever their real message is.

[reprehensor]

6. I think...

...some people are saying that because the Dean campaign has made a big deal out of deriving campaign funds from ordinary Joe's.

Personally, I'm quite suspicious of the sudden Newspaper endorsements of Kerry in the last couple of weeks when Kerry was previously seemingly dead in the polls.

I think that the media had it in for Dean, mainly because he was so forthright about what he thought about mainstream media. I agree with what he has said, but he may have said too much, too soon.

[TLM]

8. It was the DLC more than money....

Gepheadt took one for the DLC team. He got his people behind ABD.

The insiders worked very hard tonight to shut the grassroots out.

But this was a one time deal... Gephardt can only drop out once.

[cthrumatrix]

9. Dean supporters are solid behind Dean.

[formactv]

10. I think of John McCain

and how he campaigned so well- only to discover that the original favorite was the
chosen one.

[yellowdog]

13. I support Dean

and I don't think "monied interests" had a thing to do with it. For whatever reason, the Kerry and Edwards people really came out in force tonight. The only thing I saw in the hall was my neighbors and not a huge amount of money there.

[Walt Starr]

14. I support Dean and Dean only

nobody else need apply.

[Nazgul35]

15. Are they involved?

Will they give moeny?

Will they give time?

Will all those voters who showed up to vote do anything more than that?


Because in order to beat Bush and his "monied interests" we are going to need more from Dems than just showing up to vote!!

They have more $2000 donors than we do.....

And to further answer your question....look at my sig line.....

I have been giving to the ePatriots fund since September, back before Dean was leading anywhere....when everyone was talking about Clark.....I was and am ready to give cash to the party and the nominee....

My point was that unless we build on the grass roots organization that Dean Kucinich and to a small extent Clark have, we will lose to the Repugs every time....

We have to counter the media...we have to counter the Bush money....how do you do that if you can only run 1 commercial for every 10 Bush ads....

So tell me...please, who are you going to fight Bush?

Will Kerry run out of cash?

The other candidates are limited to spending caps....how can they compete? What army of volunteers will get out the message?

Please tell me that?


I can't say this often enough! Voting is the ends not the means....alot of people here seem to think that the act of voting is what is going to get it done.....and this is what worries me about our chances come November!

Think how voters become informed.......