Cotterrell says all the Dems are whistling Dixie now. Credits Dean.

[madfloridian]

Dean could help rejuvenate Democrats
By Bill Cotterell

CAPITAL CURMUDGEON
SNIP.."Whether they want Howard Dean as their national committee chairman or not, the state Democratic Party leaders from across the nation who listened to him and seven other candidates last weekend should have given him an apology...."

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/local/10424727.htm

SNIP.."It was little more than a year ago that some of the party elite, frantic to blunt the former Vermont governor's surprise surge to the head of the pre-Iowa presidential pack, feigned horror when Dean said he wanted to be "the candidate for the guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks." To hear some of the righteous indignation erupting from Democratic leaders, including Sen. John Kerry, you might have thought Dean wanted the South to rise again.

But since Nov. 2, the Democrats have been whistling a different tune - one that sounds like "Dixie."

SNIP..."In a Tallahassee speech to the Capital Tiger Bay Club last year, a week after his Confederate flag remark, Dean said his party needed to stop letting the Republicans frame the debate as "race, God, guns and gays." All eight candidates to succeed Terry McAuliffe as head of the Democratic National Committee echoed that sentiment last weekend - saying health care, education and jobs are "family values," too."END SNIP

Cotterell was no real Dean fan...heck, he is not really a fan of anyone. So this is rather nice coming from him.

[madfloridian]

1. And this was a nice comment as well.

SNIP.."While the other seven would-be DNC chairmen went around introducing themselves, or waited for someone to approach them at the state chairmen's association meeting, Dean was mobbed by "Deaniacs" wearing faded campaign T-shirts and lapel buttons - all of them ready to work for him again...."

He spent a lot of the day there in Orlando with his supporters,and had meetings with the hosts of Meet-up at another hotel. I know someone who is writing it up for the blog.

[demnan]

2. Yeah

Dean has the right message for the Democrats. I think he should run for President again. I'd vote for him again in the primary.

[Upfront]

3. Yep

So would I.

[Larkspur]

4. This is what the meadheads who call themselves Dem elders can't understand

...While the other seven would-be DNC chairmen went around introducing themselves, or waited for someone to approach them at the state chairmen's association meeting, Dean was mobbed by "Deaniacs" wearing faded campaign T-shirts and lapel buttons - all of them ready to work for him again.

This reminds me of what was written about John F. Kennedy when he won the nomination in 1961. The old fogies of the Dem Party at that time could not understand the appeal of JFK. Dean may not have won the 2004 Dem nomination, but he has won the hearts of the future of the Dem Party as well as us middle age folks who see a Dem willing to be our champion.

[Lugnut]

5. Exactly!

Dr. Dean articulates what's in my head.

[madfloridian]

7. That is what he does....like oh, that is what I was thinking.

And not just once, he keeps doing it. I do hate to see him be so cautious now, but I guess he has to please the party. I would rather hear him speak without looking at the polls. That is how progress is made.

[madfloridian]

6. Lots and lots of "us middle age folks." Hubby wears his shirt still.

My husband wore his Dean for America sweatshirt to the store the other day...he got all kinds of nice comments....especially on his MTP appearance.

No one was ugly, even in this conservative area. Very respectful comments.