If Dean decides to leave the race, this is how he should approach it ...

[Casablanca]

He should keep his grassroots activist organization going to elect progressive/fiscal conservative Congressional candidates, and not support the Democratic presidential nominee.

Many will choose to rationalize this a sour grapes and a "less than graceful exit", but they're wrong. By any measure, Dean has been by far the most high-profile candidate to make the Iraq War a campaign issue. By doing this he has already set a standard that resonates far beyond his own campaign. For him to formally give his support to a Democratic candidate that has (Kerry) or still (Edwards) supports the Iraq War is to undercut the fundamental value of his candidacy to most Americans - his as of yet uncompromised stance against an illegal and immoral war.

Whether people say it or not, the message it will send is that, given enough media pressure, even principled mavericks will sell out and deal with the Dark Side. The standard this will set will be long-term, far outweighing any tactical advantages to the Dem cause in November.

Clark wasn't as adamantly against the war, so he could throw his support to Kerry without this message being sent. Dean can't. If Dean tries, he will make the "united front" for positive change look like a compromised front that is just anti-Bush. The latter can be easily attacked in the general election.

Dean should work on a complimentary front, not the same one.

[quinnox]

1. Maybe if he does leave he should endorse Kucinich

That way he would stay true to the spirit of his strong stand against Iraq war.

[dansolo]

4. He shouldn't endorse anyone

If he endorses Kerry, then he will be called a hypocrite. If he endorses anyone else, then he will be accused of being spiteful and is trying to sabotage Kerry. His best move would be to not endorse anyone.

[Casablanca]

5. Agreed, but for the longer haul ...

He should work on the Congressional front.

[diamondsoul]

2. Agreed, and taking it a step further-

He should unite with Kucinich toward that end. Honest opinion, and from the perspective that Kucinich absolutely will not quit. At this point, I honestly wouldn't be averse to Kucinich dropping and supporting Dean but he won't do it.

Another reason I say that is I've watched Kucinich's pressure influence Dean and I wonder if it could work both ways in a manner that would help get our agenda through Congress. Kucinich writes legislation that is geared towards strongly progressive minded people. Dean has an understanding of more conservative views even though he has a few more progressive views of his own. A collaboration could result in legislation that is progressive enough to change things while having enough conservative language to make it palatable.(not that the President writes legislation but I hope you understand the point)

[Casablanca]

7. That's another reason I've supported Dean ...

Because he can be influenced for the better. He explains his stance against universal health care by saying that he doesn't believe there's enough support in Congress for it. Well, of course there isn't, but that sounds more like a challenge to the voters to me than an out-and-out dismissal of the idea, considering his background.

I've always said that you're better off with a politician that will state his disagreements with you honestly than will try to make to feel like your agreeing with them when you aren't.

[mzmolly]

3. Dean has already said that he will support the nominee, but I dont

think he'll be passionate about Kerry per-se.

Also Dean has said he'll continue with a movement regardless of what happens... I am encouraged to hear that.

[PAMod]

6. Dean should bust his a*s for the nominee and be there to...

pick up the pieces come November should we lose

OR...

to keep the fire on our "leaders", reminding them what it means to be a Democrat should they fall back into 2002 form. That has been his contribution to this campaign, and we owe him a great debt for that.

If he turns on us now, he faces almost certain irrelevancy, which doesn't do any of us any good.

Keep your eyes on the prize!

[Casablanca]

8. I'm not saying he should turn on the Dem nominee ...

He should keep his support tacit by working for Congresspeople who might put pressure on a Dem president to measure up to true progressive values.

[diamondsoul]

9. That's just it, though-

if he drops after Wisconsin (and honestly the bigger part of me hopes he does NOT drop out), he'll still have enough power and time to influence the outcome of the nomination process IF he endorses Kucinich, and Kucinich is the only one he really could endorse without a hypocrisy charge.

[Casablanca]

10. True, but I have a hard time seeing DK as the nominee at this point ...

I would be ecstatic to be proven wrong on this, though.

If Dean specifically supports anyone, it should be DK.

[PAMod]

11. You may have something there.

But he can't go on record with this plan - he has to give at least tacit support to our nominee, but can devote his fundraising & campaigning to ensuring a Democratic congress.

I didn't comprehend that in your original post. My bad, as my 8-year-old would say.