Why Dean shoudn't have gone negative

[MIMStigator]

If Dean stayed above the fray and only defended himself when he was attacked by using the ISSUES instead of attacking back he would have gotten rid of his image as an angry bitter little man.

That was a bad move on his part to go after Kerry and Clark and the other candidates, he could have turned attacks on him into a positive

[slinkerwink]

1. mmmmm......

:yourock: for injecting positivity in this thread!

[Padraig18]

2. Clarify, please?

:wtf: are you talking about?

[MIMStigator]

5. I'm saying if he didn't go on the attack

and stayed above the fray like he started out the DEAN IS ANGRY thing wouldnt' make sense.

[Padraig18]

7. And why shouldn't he be angry?

I'm angry as hell, and have been ever since November 2000. Frankly, it's one of the things that MANY voters find attractive as hell about Gov. Dean.

[MIMStigator]

10. Me too but

he could have been positive in the primary with other democrats and then it would make sense he was angry at * but not an ANGRY FIRE PLUG

[Padraig18]

15. the strategy you describe...

... is guaranteed to lose. It's called a 'primary fight' for a reason... :eyes:

[MIMStigator]

23. well Dean had a specific problem so he might have needed a different

strategy

[Padraig18]

24. What problem would that be?

Polling too high? Too much money? Too big a support base?:shrug:

[meow mix]

11. angry guys shouldnt be president

and have thier angry fingers on nuclear buttons and such.

[Padraig18]

17. he's as rational as anyone else.

Bad analogy.

[pasadenaboy]

3. what attacks are you referring to?

I'm a bit perplexed my your message.

[MIMStigator]

6. attacks against KErry who supported the same IWR and Clark Flyers

those attacks backfire

[Padraig18]

9. They haven't backfired.

Last time I looked, he was kicking Kerry's ass 9 ways to Sunday, and was leading Clark in NH...

[MIMStigator]

14. he was 45 in Iowa in december and now only 30 and Gephart catching up

what drove that % down, attacks or people saying Dean is Mean

[Padraig18]

18. A natural tightening of the race.

Too much 'gloom and doom' in your analysis. Clark was ahead of dean nationally when he first announced, too. What brought that number down?

[ShimokitaJer]

4. Yeah. If he hadn't gone negative...

he might be the frontrunner by now.

I'm sure Dr. Dean appreciates your comments on sitting there and accepting the other candidates' attacks gracefully, just as I'm sure you only have Dean's best interests at heart in raising this as an issue.

[MIMStigator]

8. no I don't have dean's best interests at heart

this doesn't matter because he already went negative. I didn't say accept them gracefully I said defend on the issue.

[Padraig18]

12. Telling the truth about an opponent is NOT an attack, nor is it...

... 'going negative'. If anyone thinks Dean has gone negative, trust me, you ain't seen NOTHIN' like KKKarl Rove is going to dish out.

[MIMStigator]

19. you don't think he could have gained anything by

staying positive? Now all the flyers and crap is out there and it just goes along with the whole ANGRY AND MEAN idea

[Padraig18]

29. So?

Your concern for Gov. Dean is touching, however....

[FubarFly]

13. I'm glad you see the light ,MIMStigator.

Fom here on out, I will look to your future exclusive positive posts.

It takes a big person to admit when they're wrong.

It will be a pleasure to finally talk ISSUES with you.

[MIMStigator]

21. I'm saying he could have used the other democrats to prove he isn't angry

He could have been the positive Dean being attacked but staying positive and above the fray
It would have shown through the anger stuff

[FubarFly]

27. Lead by example, my friend.

I agree, Dean shouldn't get sucked down into the rest of the muck. Oh the trevails of being human. I hope all the candidates follow your advice.

[DancingBear]

16. Interesting Capital Gang note

Hagel (Nebraska(?) R on as guest. No real bashing of Dean, but did say Dean is being increasingly seen as the angry candidate, and that America is not looking for an angry candidate this time around.

He is right, of course. Horror of horrors! A repug with insight! Off with his head!

What most of the Dean folks think of as a positive most of the rest of the voting body will see (and does see) as a negative. Oh, and spare me the obligatory shoot the messenger /hidden agenda/who cares what repugs think stuff - that is getting soooo tiresome.

[TLM]

20. I disagree.... the angry man image is not hurting Dean.

Because he's not coming off as angry but as a fighter.


People are drawn to the tough but fair image of Dean, because he's willing to stand up to either side of the isle.

[arewethereyet]

31. Oh yes it is

it turned many people like be off immediately, even before the flip flopping. And it was the main reason Clark was able to come into the mix in the manner that he did.

I say angry, you say fighter:
I say toe-may-toe, you say toe-mah-toe...

[Lobo_13]

22. It all started

when Howard Dean hit me back.

[DancingBear]

25. Huh?? n/t

[MIMStigator]

28. i see your point but what if a bully does hit you back?

Then if you tell somebody they say oh that bully again

[Lobo_13]

30. Dean's not the bully so much

as he's the big kid that doesn't want to hurt anybody. The little asshole kids pick on him relentlessy because of a perceived weakness until he's had enough and beats their asses.

[arewethereyet]

26. he was angry before this stuff

its just who he is, he does not deny this. Apparantly the only thing he hasn't altered his view on.

[ShimokitaJer]

32. So was I

Show me a man who wasn't angry at the way Bush has shit all over this country, and tell me why I should vote for him.

[DancingBear]

35. There is a world of difference

between being angry and acting angry. If I am angry at you and wish satisfaction (for example only, of course), I could act in one of two ways. I could a) scream and yell and stamp my feet, or b) work in a manner in that my anger is seen as rational, but definitely in evidence.

Dean is increasingly being viewed as the "stomp my feet" candidate, while Clark is the "he pulled out the knife before I knew I was even stabbed" candidate.

Which anger shows best in a Presidential candidate?

[MIMStigator]

33. I think I make a good point. n/t

n/t

[FubarFly]

34. I think someone needs a hug.

:hug:

[EXE619K]

36. Attacks?

Fliers with accurate quotes...
back room strategy to knock the other guy a couple...
over zealous supporters...

If you think these are negative attacks, I guess you haven't been around political campaigns a while.

It seems to me that the only thing negative here is the original thread.

But, I didn't have to tell you that.:)




DEAN LEADS THE WAY!