NYT: Critical of Caucuses, Dean Demands Changes in Iowa

[TexasPatriot]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/25/politics/campaign/25DEAN.html?ex=1075611600&en=99f002a92851752f&ei=5062&

The article isnt terrible to Dean, but the implication is that he's a sore loser. It's odd to think that Dean, who has Trippi - the master of the lemonade stand - would complain about campaigns toying with the system.

[creativelcro]

1. Perhaps he has a good point though...

It's not like he said the Iowa caucus is a great system before the results were in. So, the "sore loser" accusation is not right... A sore loser changes his mind AFTER losing...

[liberalnurse]

2. He was dead on in the beginning.

They system is a snake pit. Opportunistic for anyone without any hint of scruples.

[arewethereyet]

4. doesn't that pretty much define politics ?

and he's whining about it ?

And he thinks that Iowans give a rat's behind what some Vermonter thinks ?

Will this guy EVER stop shooting himsele in the foot ?

[cosmicdot]

11. actually, Iowans do give a rat's behind what Howard thinks

my friend, active in Iowa Democratic Party for decades, who I sent the NY Times article and this thread agrees with the snake pit description:

"Iowa system is a damn snake pit, full of opportunities for fraud and dirty tricks."

[spooky3]

3. I like Dean but I think this is a bad move.

I do think it makes him look like a bad loser.

He criticized the system several years ago, but then participated in it. If on principle he believed that the system was wrong, he should have done what Clark did and bypassed it.

[MoonRiver]

5. Dean "demands" the system be changed??

Of course if he'd come in first, he'd be perfectly happy with it. :thumbsdown: again for Dean.

[beaconess]

6. "If we win in Iowa, it will be hard to stop us" Dean 1/19

"If we win in Iowa, it will be hard to stop us." Howard Dean 1/19

Funny, Dean didn't seem to have a problem with the caucus when he was bragging to a reporter on the day of the caucus that he'd be virtually unbeatable if he won the Iowa Caucuses. Perhaps we missed the part where he added, "but that wouldn't be right because the Caucuses are so screwed up."

[MoonRiver]

8. It's a personal responsibility issue. Dean refuses to take any.

Unfortunately it reminds me of behavior I've observed from my least favorite person. :puke:

[SheilaT]

7. And Iowa isn't even the only state

with a caucus system, just the best known. One basic problem with a caucus is that there's no possibility of absentee balloting. You have to go in person and hang out for an hour or more at a very specific time, rather than showing up at the polling place any time in a 12 hour period. It's really quite anti-democratic.

[dansolo]

9. The problem is that it is the first one

There is an intense amount of scrutiny with Iowa, because it is the first opportunity to get official delegates. I think that a caucus should not be the first. The amount of money that must be spent in Iowa is disproportionate. Also, I am a little troubled by the whole notion of the caucuses because the vote is not private.

[DJcairo]

10. what a sore loser and a liar

He said just last week how much he appreciated Iowa, now he is criticizing it again. Jesus. Another waffle. He's not even the frontrunner and he's garnering negative sour grapes press.

[incapsulated]

12. Well, this was a stupid move

I don't care if the caucuses are the most corrupt form of voting known to man, you don't lose badly and unexpectedly and then complain about the process. It just makes you look like a sore loser, and Dean can't afford any negatives right now.

This is pretty obvious, one would think.

:wtf:

[kstewart33]

13. Another gaffe!

He wants to "regulate discussion" inside the caucus rooms? What the heck is that about? Does that promote democracy, restricting what people can and cannot say?

Geeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Read sore loser.

This guy is a loose cannon. Someone tell him to please stop talking off the cuff and stick to his stump speech.