Please actually watch the Dean speech in IA

[ProfessorPlum]

that has everyone so worked up, and I have to say I cannot believe that anyone has any kind of a problem with this. Dean's supporters in Iowa I'm sure were looking for some kind of cue from Dean, and Dean, instead of coming out and acting like he had been defeated, came out and was celebrating his 3rd place victory! He was upbeat, energized, acting like it was a great accomplishment, which it was coming from someone who started from nearly no national recognition. He was clearly a bit hoarse from the campaign, and even though it was the night after a long, harrowing day, he still seemed energized - he was ready to get on a plane and go to a 3am rally that night!

One thing you have to give him credit for, he has tons of energy, and is clearly ready to expend it to take the fight to Bush.

He could have come out and somberly accepted "defeat" - what a cold shower that would have been. Instead he rallied his troops and was incredibly upbeat.

Those people in that room were celebrating a great victory - and 18% caucus showing for Dean in Iowa, and he celebrated with them and thanked them and encouraged them and got them even more fired up to take out Dubya.

All day today I've been reading about and hearing people talk about how he was a "madman" and "crazed" and "over the top". Buy into that talk, and the media wins again, just as they did with the Wellstone memorial.

Make no mistake, nothing scares the corporate media like seeing real people, Americans energized to do good to each other and the country, displaying passion and optimism and fight and real human emotion, ready to take their country back from the plutocrats. It scared them to death at the Wellstone memorial, and I'm sure it scared them to death watching Dean's speech. "Why won't the guy just lay down?" I'm sure they were asking themselves. Instead, he was energized and hopeful and genuine and passionate.

This is a turning point in this campaign. We will now hear from a million sources, over and over, about what a madman Dean is. Just as with the Wellstone memorial, this will be used as a club against Dean by people who NEVER EVEN WATCHED the speech. Opinions will be drawn about Dean, just as mine were earlier today, based on what others are erroneously saying about the speech - and they will come from people 1) deliberately lying 2) parroting the right wing take or 3) who don't like energized, encouraging, fired-up Democrats anymore than Karl Rove does.

Your definition of "presidential" behavior may differ from mine. When I watched Dean's speech I saw one hell of a campaigner, and someone who has drawn the Democratic party out of its navel-gazing fear and who has made it fun to go after Bush. He has breathed life back into this party. If the "proper" thing was for him to be a "nice loser" - being self-defeated and stunned about his loss (a la Gore wrt Florida), then I guess he failed at that. I'm sure that's what the corporate media had in mind for him.

Do not let the spin overtake the event itself. If you get someone talking about how bad this was for Dean, have them actually watch the speech. I cannot imagine how this is a negative for him - he was joyful, laughing and smiling, playing the room, drawing cheers from Tom Harkin and all of his volunteers.

It was a CELEBRATION. And like the celebration of Wellstone's life which was twisted into something horrible by the corporate media, it needs to be mocked by them. The joke will be on them in a month or two.

link here:
http://www.c-span.org/VideoArchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&Page=2

(this topic reposted due to accidental archiving yesterday)

[LuminousX]

1. Kick

:kick:

Yes, please watch this speech. It is invigorating. And if anyone thinks that one minute and some seconds defines a person - well, I guess I don't have too much to say to a person like that.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. This speech has no impact here at DU.

We all know who Dean is, and all Dean did was act like Dean.


The impact is out in the real world, where this has defined Dean's character to millions and millions of people who know nothing about him and care little about politics until a day or two before it is time to vote.

To them, Dean is a joke.

[Jerseycoa]

3. If you first watched it after having heard about it

I can see what you mean. The people who were on DU that night watched it first-hand when it was being broadcast live. It was deeply shocking. I'm sorry if it hurts, but it's true.

[GumboYaYa]

6. I agree.

I'm a dean supporter, but I watched that speech live and my jaw hit the floor. I could already hear the pundits ripping him apart.

To me it is an issue of judgement. It showed extreme carelessness to give that speech in the context of the recent attacks on Dean as angry and unstable.

[Democrats unite]

10. I saw it live as it happened...

First reaction, He's a presdential contender? 2nd reaction did I accidently hit the channel button & get wrestling. Got back to reality & realized I don't want anything to do with this type of person.

[windansea]

16. me too

was in another room and heard screaming...ran into LR and caught the primal scream and thought Yikes...he's imploding

[diamondsoul]

4. I didn't watch the whole speech-

Just the video everyone has been so utterly stupid about. It was damned impressive, and this comes from a person who generally dislikes Dean altogether.

I like his speaking methods, overall, and honestly I thought that was one of his better moments as far as speeches go. Real selflessness at work there, and I feel for you and for him today. It ought to be at least portrayed honestly, and that's not happening.

[Zomby Woof]

5. I did see it

Please stop presuming that those of us who mock or ridicule the speech have not seen it.

I don't think he was nuts or out of control. But I DO think he looked like a fool, very unpresidential, and very undignified.

I have had enough of the current unpresidential buffoon in the White House. I do not want another buffoon to take his place. I want a real president, and Dean never was, and never will be, that person.

Dean showed poor judgment, and looked like a damn fool. Perception matters in politics, and since the speech is STILL the buzz 48 hours later, I would put a fork in his ass and turn him over.

[artr2]

7. I actually watched it twice.

I feel exactly the same as you. He rallied his troops. Can you actually know what he is up against? The monied interests, the Washington elite power structure, the corporate "news" media. You don't think that they are going to try to tear him down as much as possible?
I sorry to tell you this but Dean is the ONLY one who can win against bush. All the others voted with him, the war, patriot act etc... So how do you oppose someone you agree with??

[lovedems]

8. I saw the speech live as well, and I have seen it over and over

since then. Sorry, actually watching it, won't change my mind. He got a ticket out of Iowa and could have shown some grace. There wasn't any need to re-energize his party in that way. He went on a tangent when he should have said, we got a ticket out of Iowa, now let's go win NH.

Like I have stated, I am not yet willing to hold it against him but I didn't like what I saw. If he learns from that, more power to him.

[bloom]

21. 3rd is not a ticket out of iowa

He got 18% more than Clark or Lieberman, and 17% more than Kucinich.

That's how I see it.



3rd place Iowans have gotten the nomination before.

[Jerseycoa]

24. That might work if

Clark or Lieberman ever ran in Iowa.

[bloom]

33. It's not my fault they didn't

I'll stick with what I said.

[Uzybone]

9. third place in Iowa is a "great victory"?

well if you say so, its pretty telling of how far Dean has fallen in recent times.

I didn't have an issue with the the wildman speech, but I can see how the average American would be disturbed by it. This was definitely NOT on the same scale as the Wellstone memorial. Not many people saw the Wellstone thing, but Id say about 75% of the people I know have commented on Deans rant. It made him look bad, you can keep denying it if you want.

[He loved Big Brother]

17. As if first place is?

[Uzybone]

23. to normal people first place is better than third

n/t

[He loved Big Brother]

30. One state.

Even if Dean had won, I'd be saying the same thing, believe me. It's one state.

[reprehensor]

11. My wife was there.

She said it was great, it fired up the troops, but his voice was shot. That's why his 'yell' came out like gargled glass.

The only people at the time who noticed the 'scream' were conservative pundits, and media whores. And you know they are under orders to stop Dean, no matter what.

[Zomby Woof]

14. so I am under those orders I presume?

:eyes:

Dean's biggest opposition comes from genuine progressive Democrats who see him as the phony demagogue that he is. The speech only confirmed what I long knew to be true: He is not fit to be president.

YEEEEEARRGH! :D

[patricia92243]

12. Fox ran it without the sound, and that made it LOOK bad. With sound, it

is just another candidate pumping up his supporter speach. No more, no less!

The only "problem" it has is that it can be used by the pubs as a negative tool. If Bush made the same, exact speech, the pubs would say it was the best speech in history.

[ProfessorPlum]

13. As someone noted before

Bush would never make that speech - he doesn't know that many states.

[eissa]

15. LOL

I have to remember that one and use it against repukes around the office who have been badgering me about "the speech." I watched it live, and yeah, I cringed a little. I understand WHY he did it (cannot look defeated, rallying the troops), but problems with HOW he did it (compared with Kerry looking "presidential" it didn't help). Ted Kennedy can get away with this, but unfortunately, Dean can't.

[West Coast Democrat]

18. I saw and heard on C-SPAN Monday night

Dean sounded like a pro-wrestler or some kind of over-the-top high school football coach. I was laughing.

[bloom]

19. "Get that man some throat lozenges"

That was my reaction.


Thanks for the link.


I agree, the over-reaction by people around here (DU) is amazing.

[diamondsoul]

22. Wild, isn't it?

I first heard it, audio only and thought "Whoah, he sounds totally insane!". Then I read a lot of comments, and then finally viewed video. He looked like what he is, a candidate who was rallying his supporters and having a tough time because his voice didn't feel like working right. Yeesh, give it a rest already!

[madison]

20. "ProfessorPlum" makes a good point.

"ProfessorPlum" makes a good point. Dean was not there to give a "concession" speech because the election is not over…the campaign is not over.

Concession speeches are given on election night by the loser of the election - after which everyone moves on with a new administration.

This was nothing of the sort.

This was a bump in the road at the very beginning of the primary election season…there are many primaries and many votes to go before there is any need for concession speeches.

Howard Dean was speaking to a room filled with his supporters and workers, many of whom had traveled hundreds if not thousands of miles to work for his campaign. They had worked hard and cared deeply; many were feeling "down." He was there to cheer them up and demonstrate that after a bump like this, one picks one's self up, dusts one's self off and moves on to the next challenge.

If he had come out and "explained" all the reasons they didn't come in first or second in Iowa, how do you think these eager, devoted workers would have felt going into the next state?

They would take their cues from him.

He gave them a pep talk by showing that he was upbeat and ready to fight for the next win.

He is a scrapper…and that's what so many of us cherish about him.

I can recall, in the early days of Dean's campaign, when the media pundits all thought Americans were not ready or willing to hear negative talk about their president "in times of peril to this nation"!!

Well, Dean proved them wrong. We were not only ready and willing to hear negative talk about our president; we were thirsting to hear someone speak up and speak out about the terrible things this president was doing to our country.

Soon, the other candidates began to grasp that we wanted our Democratic leaders to fight back against Bush and to stop beginning every one of their mildly critical statements of Bush with disclaimers about "how great a leader Bush has been since 9/11"!

Soon, the other candidates were ratcheting up their attacks on Bush's policies and actions; they were also ratcheting up their volume - they were following the lead of Dean.

So, do not bother me with appraisals of Dean by the media whores - they will trash any Democratic candidate who is the front-runner. For media whores, political campaigns are a convenient substitute for cock-fighting, which has been outlawed in America.

Howard Dean was not there that final night in Iowa to give a concession speech; he was there to energize his supporters and workers, and to let them know that he was ready and primed for the next battle for votes.

Ignore the whore media; once you start letting them define our candidates and nominees, Bush wins.

[Individualist]

27. Even more disturbing is

that so many DUers not only are letting them define our candidates and nominees, many have jumped onto the mediawhores Dean bashing bandwagon.

[K8-EEE]

25. He Seemed Like A Giggley Schoolboy, Very Weird

What was with the elation/celebration of a frontrunner coming in a distant 3rd? I'm sorry but it was bizarre.

[mvd]

26. I agree

IMO, Dean knew that his supporters had to keep their heads up, so he gave a rousing speech. And the way the media is playing the video over and over again, it looks better now.

[sandnsea]

28. I watched it live,

I knew immediately this onslaught was coming. If you guys like this, okeedoke. But it's not gratuitous bashing out here. I'm honestly not a prude and love it when our candidates let loose with a little downhome language and stuff. But between this and the J&J Dinner, most people will be way turned off.

[aintitfunny]

29. I Agree

While the speech was not the best speech I ever heard, I did not find it offensive, just not well written and that was probably because it was off the cuff. The presentation was that of an obviously exhausted, perhaps not thrilled (with the Iowa results) man, who was hoping to inspire the troops. He does seem to be a little Yee Haw dysfunctional - but big deal. The media's hyping it and many are jumping on the bandwagon. I am so sick of the concept that no candidate or anyone for that matter can put one foot wrong or make a minor error without the world raining invectives down on their head. I realize I am naive, but nonetheless I am sick of it.

[milkyway]

31. I saw it live, and at first was glad that Dean had energy...

I was smiling because the Gov was his usual feisty self, even after very disappointing results. But as it went on, feeding off the crowd, he was way over the top. I felt sickened because I knew I was watching something that could eventually end his campaign. It would be blown up to be bigger than it actually was. There are some Dean supporters trying to defend his speech, but I doubt any of them had hoped beforehand that his speech would be delivered like this. I love the Gov, warts and all, and I want him to be Howard Dean, especially when after taking a tough punch from the Iowa voters. But at the worst possible moment, he became Howard Dean squared, providing everyone the ammo to use against him.

Dean seems to have believed the media image of himself and ran with it. My fear is that the undecideds or uninformed will only remember this speech. Things look tough for him now, but he still has a chance to bounce back in New Hampshire. Thankfully, the people of New Hampshire know him well, and will not judge him solely on the speech Monday night.

[Monument]

32. Plum is wrong

I think that everyone here understands what Dean was "trying to do".

But he ended up looking like somebody who was out of control. I agree with some of the previous posters who say that the speech looks better after you've heard about it.

Watching the speech live was literally like watching a train wreck. It was horrifying. The TV was on in the other room and I heard all the screaming from the TV. I thought "good god, they should yank that guy off the stage" (I had no idea that the screamer was actually Dean at the time) I ran into the room to watch and could not believe it was actually Dean.

Perception IS reality in politics. Dean played right into everybody's hands and looked like an absolute fool. He instantly became a national punchline and for those who want to look "electable", being "the fool" is not good.

Considering who our current president it, not electing a fool is probably high on the list of priorities of many Democrats across the nation.

[goodhue]

35. yes

Its all about expectations. If you heard he went loco, then you say hey, its not that bad. But live right after Edwards very classy speech it seemed kind of foolish. But it didn't strike is as much different than typical Dean. He was just trying to fire up his troops. The scream should have been a yeehaw that just came out wrong. No biggy. I really think the speech is just being used as a symbol for what is wrong with his candidacy. Dean has a tin ear which coupled with the arrogance of a front-runner really backfired with common folks. Its about the little people, the forgotten, the left behind. When has Dean ever talked about them? Perhaps he has but I missed it.

[Ripley]

34. Yes.

And it will prevail with the Dems we all know who Say Kerry is nice, but no frontrunner.

[Anwen]

36. I was completely shocked...

not by the speech, but becasue it's STILL an issue on the news today. When I saw the speech live, I thought it was funny but motivational to his supporters in the audience.

So he shouted the states. So what.

If this is the worst they have against him, I'm not too concerned. :D

[arewethereyet]

37. If he was a football coach it would have been fine

if it was maybe even up to the House of Representatives (state level) it might even be OK.

But he was over the top.

He was naturally upset and only had a victory speech prepared. It could have come out better if he was not angry for losing and losing badly.

He should have kept the parts about how a year ago 3rd would have seemed great and more confidently gone into the continuing road.

Not a sad pep rally.