Howard Dean responsible for our win far past his 50-state strategy

[Guaranteed]

In light of idiot-boy Carville's comments, while Howard Dean's 50-state strategy was important, I think we should also keep in mind the effect that Dean's leadership had on the overall political climate for the past two or three years, leading up to this election.

While I have no "links" to back this up, as I remember it Dean was the prototype Democrat opposing Bush's policies on the basis that the war in Iraq was not in our country's best interest- that the war was detracting in numerous ways from our dealing with Al Qaeda and our foreign policy in general. He seemed to me to be the first Democrat (besides maybe Kucinich, but I don't recall Kooch framing the argument in these terms) to make the argument that the war had actually made us less safe. This was not the only specific strategic or tactical idea regarding the war or other issues that he brought to the table.

But, more generally and beside the war, Dean's biggest contribution seems to me to be that, prior to Dean, the Democrats had been in full-retreat mode. They were, figuratively, running from the battlefield, refusing to even make a peep against ChimpCo for fear of being called unpatriotic. What Dean showed our party, and our country, was that a person could, indeed, stand up to the Repukes, on a national scale, and not only survive, but come out on the other side with a big, fat, patriotic "I told you so" on his lips. By campaigning in the way that he did, he "changed the paradigum" and blazed out the political trail that, really, our national and individual campaigns were based on. He showed other Democrats how to respond to the Bush Administration.

My point is that Dean's general leadership and ideas over the past couple of years contributed to our election win even more than his 50-state plan. Dean pushed so damned hard on that pendulum to get it going back in our direction- and, ultimately, that's exactly what it did. I believe that it did thanks to Dean.

So, on that basis, I thank you, Governor, Dr. Dean.

[underpants]

1. Dean was the first national figure to say out loud "The war is wrong"

Okay I know and you know that there were millions of us trying to tell everyone this but we got ZERO airplay. Even Michael Moore only got limited screen time hell Disney wouldn't even distribute his film and Donahue got booted off the air.

Dean was the first person that most people saw telling them what was readily apparent. It was like everyone walking out after a long hard rain and looking around to see how everything and everyone was...and then we got back to work.

[Guaranteed]

2. He was like a general regrouping his troops.

Now, I'm not saying that he was the only one expressing these ideas (we certainly were here on DU), but he was the one who actually put together and demonstrated the proper counterattack, with the ideas behind it, I believe, being almost entirely responsible for our country's dissatisfaction with the ChimpCo today. Which, of course, resulted in our taking back both Houses of Congress.

And it wasn't just the substance of his message, either- it was the mode of it. The opposition itself.

[whirlygigspin]

3. he's just guetting warmed up

Dean simply reflected what the good people of Vermont wanted.
To their credit and to the nations benefit.

True patriots, in the finest sense.

First Republic, 14th star, I salute you.

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[KoKo]

4. No doubt about it. And the Meet Up organizations started by Dean

supporters and the netroots (we should give a thanks to Joe Trippi and MoveOn.org) created a framework for a network of activists to grow and thrive becoming involved in their Dem State Party organizations.

I like to think the Dem Party Establishment didn't see us coming until it was too late for them to stop us.

Without Dean and Kucinich's activists efforts I doubt we would have had the ability to win this time...even with the overwhelming turnout of the "Indies" for Dems. It was activits getting the info out on the internet that turned the tide. Eventually even the Media had to listen to the Netroots to spice up their ratings.

Books will be written about this in the coming decades. Dean will be remembered as a "turning point" for cowardly Dem establishment.

[Guaranteed]

5. For sure. The guy is a legend already.

To put it shortly, he basically created the political climate that led to our win.

The climate was there as well in 2004, although it wasn't as ripened. Kerry just couldn't capitalize on it because he didn't position himself beforehand to do so.

[KoKo]

6. That was Kerry's big mistake. Not recognizing the

"groundwork" and taking advantage of it. I think Netroots explosion was ignored by his campaign team and even many in this election didn't use it well, but we've made great strides and '08 should see a refined machine working against the establishment hacks to want to do business the old way. At least I hope so.

[Guaranteed]

7. Kick for Carville the Clown. nt

[David Zephyr]

8. Kicking.

BullGooseLoony, thanks for this.

[Guaranteed]

9. Absolutely my pleasure. nt

[Guaranteed]

10. Kick nt